Local governments across China reward Olympic athletes with cash bonuses

Several regions in China are celebrating their Olympic athletes’ successes by awarding cash bonuses to them and their families, following their impressive performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

On Saturday, in Xiantao city, Central China’s Hubei Province, the secretary of the Xiangyang Municipal Party Committee, Sun Daojun, and mayor Xiong Xiangtao visited the family of Olympic diving champion Chang Yani. 

Chang, who won a gold medal in the women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard alongside her partner Chen Yiwen and later secured a bronze in the individual 3-meter springboard, was awarded a cash bonus of 600,000 yuan ($82,500) by the Xiangyang city government.

In Yichang, also in Hubei, Mayor Ma Zejiang presented a 600,000 yuan bonus to the family of Sun Jiajun, a member of the Chinese team that claimed gold in the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay, breaking the US’ 40-year dominance in the event. 
Additionally, Sun’s family will receive a special monthly stipend of 1,000 yuan until the next Olympics. If Sun wins another gold medal, the stipend will be extended for four more years.

Meanwhile, in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, the city of Dazhou honored local synchronized swimmers Xiao Yanning and Xiang Fenxuan, who were part of the Chinese team that claimed the gold medal in the event, China’s first in the sport since its Olympic debut in 1988.

The Dazhou municipal government awarded each athlete 300,000 yuan, with an additional 100,000 yuan from the Tongchuan district government, bringing the total reward to 400,000 yuan each.

In Central China’s Hunan Province, the city of Leiyang recognized Deng Lijuan, who won a silver medal in the women’s speed climbing event, with a 200,000 yuan bonus. Local officials presented the award to Deng’s family during a visit on Wednesday.

Central China’s Henan Province also joined in the celebrations. On Saturday, in Huixian county, local officials visited the family of Liu Qingyi, who won a bronze medal in the women’s breakdancing competition. Liu’s bronze was the first Olympic medal ever won by a Huixian athlete and the first for Henan Province in the current Olympics. She was awarded 50,000 yuan.

Various regions across China have established reward standards for Olympic achievements. For example, in July, the city of Zhangzhou in East China’s Fujian Province implemented a new rewards policy for 2024-27. 

Under this policy, Olympic champions will receive a bonus of 1.2 million yuan, while Asian Games and National Games champions will be awarded 150,000 yuan, World Championship and World Cup champions 80,000 yuan, and provincial games champions 20,000 yuan.