As Kazakhstani athletes begin returning home from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the medalists are being greeted not only by new fans, but with payments and presents from the government.
Yeldos Smetov, Kazakhstan’s first-ever Olympic gold medalist in judo, received the keys to a Lexus LX 600 SUV worth at least 78 million KZT ($165,000). He was also given a 5-room apartment in his native Taraz, and a check for 2.6m KZT ($5,500). Smetov received a $250,000 government bonus, lifetime monthly payments of 369,000 KZT ($785), and was promised a herd of 100 thoroughbred horses.
Meanwhile, Gusman Kyrgyzbayev, a bronze judo medalist at the Games, was also showered with gifts. A judoka who usually represents the Ministry of Defense’s own sports club, Kyrgyzbayev was promoted from senior lieutenant to captain upon his return to Kazakhstan. Kyrgyzbayev was also given a Toyota Land Cruiser-250 SUV worth about 31 million KZT ($65,000), and received $75,000 as a state award.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports has announced monetary incentives for anyone else who brings a medal home from Paris. Gold medalists will be paid $250,000; silver medalists will receive $150,000, and bronze medalists will receive $75,000. Bonuses of $30,000, $10,000, and $5,000 are also provided for 4th, 5th, and 6th places respectively.
As generous as the Kazakh government has been, in East Asia the rewards are even more lavish. The government of Hong Kong is promising prize money of 6 million local dollars ($768,000) to any champions at the 2024 Olympics. In Malaysia, meanwhile, the recent gold medalists in badminton doubles, Apriyani Rahai and Gracie Poli, were each given five cows, a specialty meatball restaurant, and a new house.
