Pichhle ek mahine se Olympic athletes ko payment milni chahiye ya nahi, is par kaafi discussion chal rahi thi. Ab International Olympic Committee (IOC) ne is direction mein ek bada kadam uthaya hai.
Olympic history mein pehli baar, IOC ne Wednesday ko “Fit for the Future Olympian Grant” launch karne ka announcement kiya. Is grant ke tahat har eligible Olympian ko $10,000 (USD) diye jayenge. Yeh scheme 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina se shuru hogi.
IOC Athletes’ Commission ke Chair Pau Gasol ne Lausanne mein hui 146th IOC Session ke dauran bataya ki har Olympiad ke liye athletes ko support karne ke uddeshya se $140 million alag rakhe gaye hain.
“Yeh grant har Olympian ke liye available hogi,” Gasol ne kaha. “Sirf medal winners ke liye nahi. Sirf kuch specific countries ke athletes ke liye nahi. Har Olympian ke liye. Kyunki har athlete ka safar alag ho sakta hai, lekin Olympic stage tak pahunchne ke liye sabne bahut sacrifices kiye hain.
Saalon ki dedication, saalon ki hard work aur ek sapne par bharosa karna is journey ka hissa hai. Yeh prize money nahi hai. Yeh us commitment aur struggle ko recognize karne ka ek tareeka hai jo kisi athlete ko Olympian banata hai. Saath hi yeh Olympic community ke har member ko respect dene aur un athletes ko honour karne ka bhi ek tareeka hai jinhone future generations ke liye raasta banaya.”
IOC ke mutabik, har Olympiad mein lagbhag 14,000 athletes is grant ke liye eligible honge. Yeh payment National Olympic Committees (NOCs) ke existing systems ke through di jayegi.
14,000 athletes ka figure recent Olympic participation numbers se kaafi zyada hai. Paris 2024 Olympics mein 10,714 athletes ne compete kiya tha, jabki Winter Olympics mein generally participation kaafi kam hoti hai. Milano-Cortina Winter Games mein 2,884 athletes ne bhaag liya tha.
IOC ne yeh bhi clarify kiya hai:
“Agar koi Olympian is grant ke liye apply nahi karta hai, to uska allocated amount fund mein hi rahega aur future Olympians ke benefit ke liye use kiya jayega. Is grant ki wajah se IOC dwara NOCs, International Federations (IFs), Organising Committees (OCOGs) ya Olympic Solidarity ko milne wale existing support mein koi kami nahi aayegi.”
Eligibility ke liye athlete ka Olympics mein Aa accreditation ke saath compete karna zaroori hai. Aa accreditation competing athletes ko milti hai, jabki Ap athletes alternate ya replacement athletes hote hain jo competition mein participate nahi karte. Saath hi athlete ne Anti-Doping Rules, IOC Code of Ethics, Conditions of Participation ya Olympic Charter ka violation nahi kiya hona chahiye.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry ne kaha:
“Yeh kai saalon se discussion ka topic raha hai aur mujhe bahut garv hai ki hum ab is initiative ko reality bana paaye hain.”
“Fit for the Future” darasal Coventry ki taraf se propose ki gayi ek broader strategy ka naam hai, jise is hafte IOC ne approve kiya hai. Is strategy mein paanch major themes shamil hain:
- Athletes
- Olympic Games
- Olympic Movement
- Olympic Impact
- Engagement and Revenue
In sabhi themes ke goals aur objectives ko 2032 tak achieve karne ka target rakha gaya hai.
Coventry ne kaha:
“Hamari responsibility hai ki hum un logon dwara banayi gayi mazboot foundation par aage build karein jo humse pehle aaye. Saath hi humein future generations ke liye bhi taiyari karni hai. Fit for the Future isi vision ko dhyan mein rakhkar design kiya gaya hai. Iska maksad sunna, samajhna, reflect karna aur milkar Olympic Movement ka future shape karna hai.”
Pichhle mahine Coventry ne ek interview mein kaha tha ki woh athletes ko direct payment dene ke concept mein believe nahi karti. Is statement ke baad kaafi criticism hua aur kai famous Olympians ne is par reaction diya, jinmein Olympic swimming gold medalist Cameron McEvoy bhi shamil the.
Baad mein Coventry ne ek naya statement jaari karke apni baat ko clarify kiya. Unhone kaha ki unke original comments specifically Olympic athletes ko prize money dene ke context mein the. Unka matlab yeh nahi tha ki woh athletes ko financial support ya broader payment models ke khilaaf hain.
