Itongadol.-Israeli Olympic judoka Yarden Gerbi could get a monthly bonus for her bronze medal win, if a new law proposed by MK Oded Forrer (Yisrael Beytenu) Wednesday becomes law.
Forrer’s initiative would have the government pay homegrown Olympic medalists the equivalent of minimum wage each month, in exchange for dedicating one day a week to sports education.
The content of the sports education program, which would take place throughout the country, would be determined by the Culture and Sport ministry.
The bill would cost the state less than NIS 400,000 a year, to pay seven medal-winners.
Forrer argued that Olympic athletes dedicate their lives to sports, but their injuries often cut their sporting careers short. They then enter the workforce at a relatively late age and have difficulty making a living, he said, and the country should show them appreciation and make sure they can reach their goals without concern for their future.
“Yarden Gerbi brought great honor to our country and is an ambassador of the spirit of athleticism,” Forrer said. “We must encourage athletes to win medals and reach achievements, and we can only do that by ensuring their economic future.”
Forrer said the goal of his bill is “to prevent a situation in which athletes are forgotten after a few years and have to leave the country to look for work.”
The MK brought the example of Michael Kolganov, who won a bronze medal in the 500m sprint canoeing event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and moved to Germany last year, because he could not find work as a kayaking coach in Israel.