Rikuren to Pay $40,000 Bonus for World Championships Gold

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2009061500559

translated by Brett Larner

At a press conference in Tokyo on June 15, Rikuren announced its bonus structure for August's World Championships in Berlin. Athletes winning a gold medal will be paid a $40,000 bonus, with their coaches likewise receiving a $10,000 bonus. Silver and bronze medalists will earn $20,000 and $15,000 respectively, with smaller bonuses going to any athletes finishing in the top eight in their event.

Officials also released more information about the selection criteria for the Berlin team. Apart from the marathon and race walk squads which have already been decided, any athlete who currently holds an elligible World Championships A or B standard mark and wins his or her event at the National Track and Field Championships beginning June 25 in Hiroshima will be automatically selected for the national team. The men's 4x400 m relay team, which has not yet cleared the World Championships qualifying standard, will be given until July's World University Games in Beograde, Serbia, to earn a qualifying mark.

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