BEIJING—Chinese provinces eager to bask in Olympic glory are offering big payments to hometown athletes who triumph in Beijing, cash that some fear is a distraction.
As in other areas of national success, China's sporting wins often reflect the meshing of cold cash and top-down Communist Party power.
When Wang Feng won gold in synchronised diving, his home city in east China's Shandong province immediately handed his family a bonus check of 600,000 yuan ($87,400).
"After the Games finish, we can now hold his wedding," Wang's teary-eyed grandfather said, according to the Chinese-language Changjiang Daily on Thursday.
Local officials keen to burnish their and their regions' reputations often offer bonuses to the athletes who bring glory. Some have attended Olympic finals with the cash in hand, media recently reported. In turn, areas that produce Olympic gold receive more funds from central sports authorities.
Bonuses are by no means unique to China. But in this country where many still live in poverty, the sums are impressive.
When weightlifter Chen Xiexia won China's first gold at the Beijing games, her hometown in the southern province of Guangdong announced a bonus of 50,000 yuan ($7,300), local media reported. One report suggested her bonuses from the town, district and nearby Guangzhou city could reach 3 million yuan ($437,000).
Officials in Nanchong city in southwest Sichuan province have said they will give local hopeful Wang Na 250,000 yuan ($36,400) if she wins in synchronised swimming, the local newspaper said.
Hunan province in the east is offering gold winners a million yuan ($146,000) each, provided by a local liquor maker, and organised a grand celebration in Beijing when weightlifter Long Qingquan won the province's first gold at the Games.
All this is in addition to commercial endorsement payments and medal bonuses handed out by central sporting authorities.
Central sports officials have not said how high the bonuses they give will be, but the Chinese-language Sports Weekly reported they are likely to hand gold medal winners 350,000 yuan ($51,000) each, plus big payments shared out from sponsors.
"The custom is that each local area gives gold medallists bonuses that surpass the center's (bonuses)," the magazine noted, adding that winning athletes can also expect free homes.
Some worry the frenzy of bonuses could distract athletes as much as they fire them up.
After shooter Du Li unexpectedly failed in one event, local commentators said she may have felt unsteadied by the huge bonuses on offer in a sport where inner poise is crucial.
"Many provinces and cities compete with bonus sizes for gold-winning athletes," said Ta Kung Pao, a Hong Kong newspaper controlled by Beijing. "The temptation of these massive benefits is also one invisible source of pressure."
