Poor cash prizes irk African runners

Vasco: Money speaks greater than words. We tweaked the adage for our readers to understand that a marathon’s stature does not lie in the claims that the organizers make but in the number of elite athletes that take part in it.
While the GRM organizers claimed that National Geographic has listed the Goa River Marathon as one of the 10 great marathons in the world, the prize money does little to justify the statement.Of course, Goa’s valleys, hills and greenery combine to make the event a picturesque one but is that enough to allure professional runners all the way from Africa?
“No,” said one of Ethiopia’s top marathoners Getahun Tilahun. The 2012 GRM runner-up chose to opt out of the race entirely after just one look at the prize money.
“Everywhere I go in India or outside we are paid quite handsomely for the full and half marathon. Across the world the prize money is increasing day by day. Only here in Goa the money is decreasing. There was no point of running for something as low as Rs 25,000 (for the winner of the 42km race). I love Goa and the marathon is organized well but I think I need to have a word with the organizers regarding this issue,” said the third-placed runner in last year’s Bangalore Marathon.
Tilahun cannot be faulted for his views. The Mumbai Marathon offers $41,000 for the winner, Delhi $27,000 and Pune, pale by comparison, still offers $5,250.
Tilahun justified the need for adequate monetary reward. “You require at least two months to recover from a full marathon and then head for the next race. I am afraid soon Goa will lose out on a lot of us if they do not improve the cash prizes,” he added.
Samuel Maina ran the 10km and fortunately, for him, won it. Had he come second he would have had to return home without any monetary benefit. The organizers chose to give away prizes worth Rs 80,000 to the top three Indian women, men, Goan men and women in the provisional categories but for the open category there were only two Rs 15,000 cheques -- one for the men’s first finisher and the other for the women’s.
“We struggle a lot to earn this money. Back home my parents must be thinking my son will bring us a lot of money. But here I’m with only Rs 15,000. I’m glad I at least won the race otherwise I would have had to go away empty-handed. I am a full marathon runner but I chose to run the 10km because the difference in total money was a mere Rs 10,000,” said Samuel.
“I have nothing against Indian men and women getting the provisional category money but is it fair to give us so little for all the effort we put in to come here and take part?” asked the Kenyan, who was sitting among many of the prize winners who were cheered by a sparce crowd.
The organizers, who presented a winner’s cheque of Rs 50,000 last year, asserted that the total prize money has increased but the category prizes amount dipped because there were more provisional categories and an added full marathon this time.
“The total prize money for the event has not reduced. It has actually increased compared to last year. However there are more categories compared to last year due to the addition of the full marathon. We also wish we could increase the prize money. But sponsorship for running events is very hard to come by as there is no glamour or media coverage,” said Rakesh Unny, secretary, Vasco Sports Club.
Goa River Marathon, you are beautiful. But let the beauty reach as many top athletes as possible. Then you might truly be positioned as one of the top 10 marathons in the world!
CASH PRIZES ELSEWHERE
Mumbai Marathon: $41,000.
Delhi Marathon: $27,000
Pune Marathon: $5,250
(The mentioned figures are the prize money given to the first place holders in full marathon this year)