Russian athletes who bring home gold medals from the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games will earn seven times more than their American and Canadian counterparts.
Russians winning a gold metal can expect a cash reward of $140,510 (100,000 Euros). A silver is worth $84,306 (60,000 Euros) and a bronze $56,200 (40,000 Euros).
Figures published by the Canadian Olympic Committee say that their gold prize winners will receive $18,788 (20,000 Canadian dollars), silver medalists - $14,084 (15,000 Canadian dollars), and bronze medals winners $9,389 (10,000 Canadian dollars).
U.S. athletes will receive about as much for their medals from the government - $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver, and $10,000 for bronze.
The majority of the countries that send their teams to the Olympics offer monetary incentives - what varies is the amount.
During the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games, Chinese officials promised $1,000, 000 to those who took gold on home turf. Perhaps unsurprisingly, China led the way with 42 gold medals. Olympics champions could also count on additional bonuses from their provinces, as well as life-time employment in state-run sport industry.
Britons were promised an Alfa Romeo for any medal that they received in Beijing, as well as a monetary sum ranging from $5,000 - $8,000.
Thai gold winners were promised to receive just over 30,000 dollars (1,000,000 baht), as well as a house.
However, countries such as Norway, Sweden and New Zealand do not pay Olympians, and all rewards for their team come from private sponsors.
Russian sport officials predict that the nations' Olympic team may return from Vancouver with as many as 50 medals.
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