– The prize money in winter sports is something I have cared about a lot for quite some time. Not because I want to earn the most, but because it says something about how many athletes have the opportunity to drive, says Halvor Egner Granerud. Last winter, he jumped in just over 1.4 million kroner in prize money in the World Cup. It was fourth most among the men. Big differences In the years ahead, similar efforts will be worth more. The jumping committee of the International Ski Federation (FIS) has decided to increase the prize money pot. The decision will be voted on during the FIS congress in Milan this week, but is only considered a formality. OVER A MILL: Halvor Egner Granerud jumped in just over 1.4 million kroner in prize money in the World Cup last season. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB Last winter, 71,800 Swiss francs were paid out per competition for men. In 2024/25, the corresponding sum will be 100,000. There will also be an increase for women. Today’s pot is 25,194 Swiss francs. By 2024/25, the corresponding pot should have risen to 30,156. In other words and another currency: The men’s pot increases by 280,212 kroner (39 percent) per race over the next three seasons. The women’s pot increases by NOK 49,305 (19.6 per cent). The amount is thus about five times as large. The men will also receive a twice as large salary increase as the women over the next three years. In total, the prize money pot per race will be NOK 993,658 for men versus NOK 299,647 for women – over three times as much. PREPARING NEW SEASON: Silje Opseth trained on Tuesday in Håkons Hall in Lillehammer. Photo: Ali Chamanguli / NRK – I would like to see that it would have been more evenly distributed between the sexes, because there is no doubt that it is easier to invest as a boy when you have so much more income, says Silje Opseth, last season’s best Norwegian jumps on the women’s side. Although she emphasizes that it is not for the money she jumps. – Of course, I dream of standing at the top of the podium and jumping long and nicely on skis. That’s why I do this, not because of the prize money, says Opseth. Granerud believes that women get a disability The fact that the wage gap continues to grow makes many people react. Among them is Halvor Egner Granerud. He has long been interested in the distribution of prize money in the various FIS branches and not least between the sexes. – Every year I check how many practitioners from how many nations have earned over 30,000 Swiss francs during the winter. In most countries in the world, it is a sum it is possible to live on, he points out. The distribution is striking: Last season, there were 25 jumpers who earned over 30,000 Swiss francs in the Men’s World Cup. 35 earned over 20,000. Among the women, only seven earned over 30,000. The same seven were also the only ones who earned over 20,000. In Granerud’s theory, in other words, only seven women earn enough to have their sport as a job. – The total is too low for many to work full time, and an athlete who has to work alongside, will have a disability. Then you put a brake on a product that is in very good development, he points out. Granerud believes that the extra prize pool that is planned should have been distributed equally between the sexes. – I had given them two thumbs up to it and said drive on. It’s easier to share something you have not yet received. This has been a battle issue for me for so long that I would have been very happy with it, he says. NRK has been in contact with race director Sandro Pertile, who does not want to comment on the matter. FIS ‘communications department has not responded to NRK’s inquiries. Bråthen wants equal prizes National team manager Clas Brede Bråthen goes even further than Granerud. – In principle, I think we should look at a solution where there is exactly the same reward. It is quite far away now, he says. NATIONAL TEAM MANAGER: Clas Brede Bråthen. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB At the same time, he emphasizes that it was not a battle issue for Norway at this year’s meeting of the jumping committee. – We chose a strategy where we emphasized our battle issue, which was a better schedule, several big hill races and the ski flying race, says Bråthen. He believes that these measures will help increase interest in women’s jumps, and thus also the commercial basis for higher premium rates. At the same time, he is not impressed with the decision that has been made about prize money. – It is only to note that the plan for the future does not necessarily build on the gender equality perspective, which is unfortunately common in sports, says Bråthen. It should be said that a further increase in the prize pool in women’s jumps has already been decided after 2025. In 2027 it is 35,900 francs, ie NOK 358,680, per competition The rates from FIS are minimum rates. Local organizers can choose to pay higher prize amounts. The Norwegian Ski Association did this during this year’s Raw Air tournament, where there were equal rates for men and women.
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FIS increases wage differences – Granerud reacts – NRK Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
