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Asian GP circuit brings cash rewards to Lankan athletes
Colombo, Jun 02: With Chinese athletes sidelined due to the SARS scare, Sri Lankan athletes have reaped financial rewards at the first two meets of the four-leg 2003 Asian Grand Prix Athletics Series.
Colombo, Jun 02: With Chinese athletes sidelined due to the SARS scare, Sri Lankan athletes have reaped financial rewards at the first two meets of the four-leg 2003 Asian Grand Prix Athletics Series.
Sri Lankan athletes have accumulated US$40,750 so far from the series opener at Hyderabad, India and at yesterday's meet at Sugathadasa stadium in Colombo.
The average annual salary of a government clerk in Sri Lanka is about US$1,000.
With two more stops in Bangkok and Manila, Sri Lankans are likely to earn more than US$50,000 between them. And regional athletics authorities are hoping there will be more on offer next year if the series attracts major sponsors.
The current prize money may not compare with European or IAAF Grand Prix standards or the earnings of Sri Lankan cricketers, but it is big windfall to local athletes who get limited opportunities in the big league.
The Lankan athletes have already earned more prize money than ever. Olympic bronze-medal winning sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe has already earned three times what she received for getting the silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athens, 1997.
Bureau Report
The average annual salary of a government clerk in Sri Lanka is about US$1,000.
With two more stops in Bangkok and Manila, Sri Lankans are likely to earn more than US$50,000 between them. And regional athletics authorities are hoping there will be more on offer next year if the series attracts major sponsors.
The current prize money may not compare with European or IAAF Grand Prix standards or the earnings of Sri Lankan cricketers, but it is big windfall to local athletes who get limited opportunities in the big league.
The Lankan athletes have already earned more prize money than ever. Olympic bronze-medal winning sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe has already earned three times what she received for getting the silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athens, 1997.
Bureau Report