Vietnam Offers Financial Incentive for Taekwondo Athletes

The Vietnamese government shocked the world by announcing monetary prizes for champions in TKD at the Olympics. The prizes are awarded per medal, ranging from 30,000-100,000 USD. This very capitalist method of rewards is quite out of line with the government's official Communist policies.

Vietnam blamed its below-standard performance on under-motivated athletes and inferior training coaches. Qualified coaches are also expected to see a pay raise on par with the skill-set they bring to the national team.

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Why Not Pay Taekwondo Fighters?

Numerous other sports pay their athletes top dollar. In the combat-sports world, one can point at examples such as boxing and MMA. Floyd Mayweather alone has a salary of 85 million USD.

 While some may argue that love of the sport is what should drive Taekwondo, it is an indisputable fact that money is always a good motivator. Many top quality Taekwondo athletes have to give up fulltime training due to financial issues and pursuing a 9 to 5 job. Paying top level competitors wold ensure they have a better chance of reaching their potential, as well as providing the incentive of wealth and fame to the next generation of hopeful champions.

Bringing Taekwondo into a money-sponsored limelight would also shine more light on the entire sport, helping to spread it to new athletes as well as highlighting the sport's Olympic profile.