Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic will award 15 million pesos (approximately 252,000 USD) to any athlete who wins a gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games, starting on July 26. The announcement was made by the Dominican Minister of Sports, Francisco Camacho, in the presence of President Luis Abinader, before the delegation departed for Paris.
Camacho also revealed additional prizes: 10 million pesos (approximately 168,000 USD) for silver medalists and 8 million pesos (approximately 134,000 USD) for bronze medalists.
The Dominican Republic is sending a delegation of 57 athletes to compete in various events at the Olympic Games, including the women’s volleyball team, known as the ‘Queens of the Caribbean,’ and the men’s soccer team, marking the country’s first Olympic appearance in this sport.
Earlier, the government announced that each of the 57 qualified athletes received 100,000 pesos (approximately 1,680 USD) to ensure they could compete in Paris without financial concerns for their families.
The country’s standout athlete is sprinter Marileidy Paulino, the world champion in the 400 meters and a double silver medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Paulino remains undefeated this year in the Diamond League, with the last event held in Paris.
At the Tokyo Games, held in 2021 due to the pandemic, the Dominican Republic achieved its best-ever performance, winning a total of five medals: three silver and two bronze.