MICHAEL FINCH, Johannesburg | Tuesday 5.30pm.
SOUTH Africa’s athletics controlling body became the first federation in the world to offer top athletes monthly salaries and incentives, it was announced on Tuesday.
Athletics South Africa (ASA) will pay 17 of the country’s top athletes set monthly amounts backdated to May 1.
The athletes will also receive bonuses and rewards based on the previous year’s achievements and world rankings.
Athletes were divided into four categories, with the two category A athletes — 1992 Olympic 10000 metres silver medallist Elana Meyer and world javelin champion Marius Corbett — set to receive R72000 a year.
Category B athletes will receive R60000 a year, category C R42000 a year and category D R24000 a year.
While other countries, such as Italy, have similar deals with athletes through their national Olympic committees and government sports departments, ASA is the first athletics federation to offer such contracts.
”We feel that it is time our athletes were able to concentrate just on training and not worry about financial problems,” ASA secretary general Banele Sindani said.
The programme, called the Athletes’ Financial Support Programme, is sponsored by a private company to the tune of $1 million over three years.
”I’m delighted. At long last I get to buy some bread and milk at the end of the month,” Commonwealth Games 110 metres hurdles bronze medallist Shaun Bownes joked.
For Corbett, the programme ensures security.
”We now know that even when we have injuries we will still get our money from ASA,” he said. ”It’s very reassuring.”
The contracted athletes will be required to make appearances as part of ASA’s development programme.
Not all the athletes who qualify have signed the contract but they are expected to do so in the next few days.
Athletes who qualify:
Category A: Elana Meyer, Marius Corbett.
Category B: Okkert Brits, Hendrick Ramaala, Gert Thys, Hestrie Cloete, Burger Lambrechts, Riaan Botha.
Category C: Hezekiel Sepeng, Llewellyn Herbert, Arnaud Malherbe, Frantz Kruger, Johan Botha, Elmarie Gerryts.
Category D: Shaun Bownes, Veronica Abrahamse, Chris Harmse. — Reuters