European Athletics Championships Announce Record £3 Million Prize Fund for 2028 Event

The 2028 European Athletics Championships, to be held in Silesia, Poland, will feature a record prize fund of approximately £3 million, European Athletics announced. This marks a substantial increase in financial recognition for athletes compared to previous championships.

Under the new structure, prize money will be distributed to athletes finishing in the top eight across all 50 disciplines. Gold medalists will receive 30,000 euros (about £25,720), while silver medalists will earn 15,000 euros (£12,860) and bronze medalists will receive 10,000 euros (£8,573). Athletes finishing in fourth through eighth place will also receive financial awards ranging from 5,000 euros down to 1,000 euros.

This contrasts with the prize money distribution at the most recent championships in Birmingham, where a total pot of 500,000 euros (£428,000) was divided among the top 10 performances in 10 categories, determined by World Athletics scoring tables. Notably, Great Britain and Northern Ireland secured 19 medals in Birmingham, including nine golds, but none of these gold-medal performances qualified for the 'Gold Crown' bonuses.

The elevated prize fund reflects a broader trend of increasing earning potential for elite athletes in the sport. World Athletics recently offered a $10 million (£7.4 million) prize pot for its new Ultimate Championship event in Budapest, with individual event winners receiving $150,000 (£110,000).

European Athletics Chief Executive Christian Milz stated that the decision to expand the prize fund demonstrates a commitment to competitors. "We are seeing European athletes produce extraordinary performances and capture the imagination of audiences around the world," Milz said. "It is important that we continue to find meaningful ways to recognise and support them, and this record prize fund is a significant step in that direction."

Scheduled for early June, the European Championships will take place six weeks before the start of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. European Athletics aims for the revised structure to ensure equal recognition for all disciplines and athletes who achieve top-eight finishes, acknowledging their contributions to the sport.