The Russian government has announced awards of $130,000 to Russian athletes who win a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
The government announced on Friday that silver medalists would receive $82,000, while bronze winners would get $56,000.
The incentives are similar
to those offered during the Vancouver Games in 2010, where Russia, a traditional winter sports powerhouse, delivered its most miserly medal haul in Olympic history, finishing 11th in the final standings with three gold, five silver and seven bronze.