All Japanese skiers who win a medal of any color at the world championships will receive cash bonuses starting this season, the Ski Association of Japan said Tuesday.
The SAJ decided to give 1 million yen to winners of a gold, 500,000 yen to winners of a silver and 300,000 yen to winners of a bronze medal at the world championships in addition to the cash bonuses they have been giving Olympic medalists since the 1992 Albertville Games.
The organization apparently came up with the idea to motivate competitors to make their best efforts in preparation for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.