The countries which don't pay out prize money to their Olympic medallists

When it comes to prize money for placing on the podium at the Olympics, there are different stances taken by many countries.

Ahead of the showpiece, 33 countries competing in this year's Olympics confirmed to Forbes that they would give out cash prizes.

Hong Kong pledged to splash the most cash - giving out £597,300 for gold and £295,500 for silver. They ended up claiming four medals, made up of two golds and two bronzes.

Meanwhile, Taiwan claimed two golds in Paris - meaning two athletes each collected £470,000 for their achievements.

The United States have topped the medal table with 126 overall and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee's Operation Gold program means gold medallists get $37,500 (£29,000), silver medallists $22,500 (£18,000) and bronze medallists $15,000 (£12,000).

With it being the 100th anniversary of their participation in the Olympics, Poland offered a £63,000 payment for gold, as a painting from a Polish artist, a holiday voucher for two, an investment-grade diamond and a two bedroom flat in Warsaw if in an individual sport.

Image: Getty

Yet, as highlighted by TIME and commentator Andrew Cotter on BBC's coverage of the Olympics, the United Kingdom are among the few countries who do not offer such a reward.

Team GB athletes receive a financial grant beforehand and it's said that British Athletics do provided bonuses separate to the government.

Norway and Sweden are also in the group but they can benefit in another way as World Athletics announced in April that gold medallists in track and field would be paid £39,400.

“While it is impossible to put a marketable value on winning an Olympic medal, or on the commitment and focus it takes to even represent your country at an Olympic Games,” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said.

“I think it is important we start somewhere and make sure some of the revenues generated by our athletes at the Olympic Games are directly returned to those who make the Games the global spectacle that it is.”

Boxing gold medallists are in line to be paid $100,000, though the International Boxing Association, who made the pledge, were stripped of governing duties by the International Olympic Committee.