– My message to them is that they must toughen up. They must start taking more care of the athletes, so that it is easier to live as an athlete in 2023, says Vladimir Vukicevic to news. He is one of several athletes who take part in the biggest series in athletics – the Diamond League. The series was introduced in 2010. Today, 13 years later, the same amount of prize money is paid to the athletes. Vukicevic is given up. – If you adjust it for inflation, the athletes actually earn half of what they did 13 years ago. It’s not right, he thinks. Roper varsku The top prize in a Diamond League vote is NOK 100,000. Compared to the payouts in a number of other individual sports, it is a pittance. The consequence is that many athletes struggle to get it going. Prize money Diamond League 1st place: NOK 100,000 2nd place: NOK 60,000 3rd place: NOK 35,000 4th place: NOK 20,000 5th place: NOK 12,500 6th place: NOK 10,000 7th place: 7,500 NOK 8th place: NOK 5,000 The prize money has been converted from dollars according to today’s exchange rate. – One is completely dependent on having enough votes, and with votes it is possible to make some money. When the organizers have not adjusted the prize money according to the general rise in prices in society, the athletes become poorer. It’s not good. – Then it becomes more difficult to bet. The quality of the results and the quality of life are getting worse, says Vukicevic. HERDERS: Vukicevic was honored during the athletics NM in Jessheim this year. Photo: NTB Gets support from Warholm Through a series of world-class achievements, Karsten Warholm has made himself attractive to vote organizers around the world. Therefore, the sunnmøring belongs to a small number of athletes who also receive a so-called “appearance fee” – an allowance for standing in the polls. Warholm is aware that this applies to a few, and therefore gives Vukicevic his full support. – If you are trying to be a professional sport, you have to keep up with the times. One must change together with inflation and the development in society in general. I completely agree that it needs to be improved. – At the same time, the money has to come from somewhere, and that is probably the challenge, adds the 27-year-old. SUPPORT: Warholm agrees with Vukicevic in the problem he raises. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB This is how the Diamond League explains the situation news has been in contact with the Diamond League about the criticism from the Norwegian athletes. Communications manager Matthew Quine confirms that prize money has stagnated, and says that they are fully aware that some athletes are more dependent on prize money than others. – We are not satisfied with the situation and really want to increase the prize money, he says. Diamond League The Diamond League is an annual competition series in athletics, and is one of the highest ranked events in the sport. This year, the series consists of 14 events, including at Bislett Stadium in Oslo. Conventions are organized in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. The series was started in 2013 and replaced the former Golden League. Quine is nevertheless clear that the Diamond League must take care of the financial situation, and that the realities are not what they would like. – The income from the media and the commercial for the vote has not increased since 2019, but has actually been reduced. As soon as the income increases, we will be in a position where we can increase the prize money, he says. – Can’t go on exploiting us. It’s not just in Norway that there are murmurs. In the United States too, many are calling for change and better rights for athletes. Earlier in July, sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson asked for a meeting with other American athletes, with the desire to form a professional organization that can protect the athletes. – They cannot continue to exploit us, said Richardson. STARS: Sha’Carri Richardson is among the fastest women in the world and a gold candidate for the WC this summer in Budapest. Photo: AFP She mentions that other sports, such as basketball and American football, have organizations that help the athletes and do not exploit them. – They have no idea how many athletes do not have a basic salary. Someone signs contracts where the only payment is clothing, writes the sprinter on Twitter. Vukicevic also points to the lack of organization of the athletes as the biggest challenge. – There is no organizational body that maintains the interests of the athletes. I think that is the main problem. In Norway we have trade unions that look after the interests of the workers, we should have that in athletics as well.
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Vladimir Vukicevic calls out a warning about finances in athletics – wants to organize the athletes – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
