Olympic athletes will each be eligible for a $10,000 grant for competing in the Games under a new scheme announced by the International Olympic Committee on Wednesday.
The "Fit for the Future Olympian Grant" will even retroactively be dished out to those who took part in February's Winter Olympics in northern Italy.
"The grant has been set up to support the sporting career or the career transition of Olympians," an IOC statement said. "A fund of $140 million per Olympiad has been set aside."
The announcement came from former Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol during the 146th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is the chair of the IOC's Athletes’ Commission.
Payment at Olympics has always been a thorny issue given the original ideals of the movement were based on amateur sport.
But modern times have required a new approach, especially with athletes in some countries struggling for government-sponsored support and not every sports person being able to market themselves with lucrative sponsors.
"This grant will be available to every Olympian," Gasol said. "Not just medal winners. Not just athletes from certain countries. Every Olympian. Because, while every athlete's journey is different, every Olympian has made sacrifices to reach the Olympic stage."
The only Olympians not eligible are those that have committed an anti-doping rule violation, or violated the IOC code of ethics, the conditions of participation, or the Olympic Charter.
"It has been a topic of conversation for many years, and I am extremely proud that we are now able to do this," IOC president Kirsty Coventry said.
