CHARIOTS OF CASH... AND ABOUT TIME

Money needs to find its way to the people who make the Games what it is - not the deal makers

EXPLAINING the decision of his organisation to give prize money to athletes who win an Olympic gold medal, Sebastian Coe said: "The world has changed."

Yep and it changed a long time ago, Seb. As the president of World Athletics and double Olympic champion knows.

Never mind all this Olympic spirit stuff, the Chariots of Fire days have long since headed for the hills.

Certainly in athletics, which remains the marquee discipline at an Olympic Games, it has been a full-time profession for a considerable time. Other sports often refer to blue-riband events as 'their Olympic Games'.

For athletes, the Olympic Games is their World Cup, their Masters, their Tour de France, their Wimbledon...all rolled into one

Imagine being a professional sportsman or woman and triumphing in the most prestigious, most competitive event you can take part in... and not being financially rewarded.