At present, it is no secret to anyone that famous and world-famous athletes for their sporting achievements are, in addition to everything, people who are quite rich. They participate in commercials, receive fees for their performances both on and off the sports arena.
And, of course, everyone, even the most eminent world sports stars, understand that their sports career and high achievements are not eternal, and therefore it is necessary to take care of their future and find a different way to earn money than participation in competitions. Of course, basically, it's coaching work.
Take, for example, Russian athletes. Basically, if not “stars, then their income is a salary from the state, which they receive through the relevant federations or clubs of the sports they represent. Some, for example, football players, may be lucky and receive good money from private companies under the patronage of which the club is located.
In addition to the basic salary, the income of athletes can be from:
- business, both his own and, for example, wives,
- participation in show business,
- coaching work,
- prize money that the same state pays for success in competitions,
- contracts with various advertising firms.
In addition to professionals, there are many more amateur athletes. Take, for example, amateur running, which is gaining more and more popularity and is actively developing in our country. A huge number of long-distance running competitions, half marathons and marathons such as "White Nights" are held in Russia throughout the year, and athletes of absolutely any level of training can take part in them.
However, here it is worth understanding that money rules the world. Therefore, both the organizers and some participants in such amateur running competitions most likely receive not only spiritual, but also material benefits from holding such running competitions.
Can you make money by running?
The answer is yes! And sometimes it does not matter whether you are a professional athlete at the moment, or left the sport in your school years.
Professional and experienced athletes
Basically, professional athletes receive money for excellent results shown during their participation in competitions. Running for them is work. You can also make good money on commercials, for example, in the course of advertising sportswear and sports nutrition.
Experienced athletes, as a rule, become coaches: they teach both in sports sections funded by the state, and open their own private schools or give individual lessons. They can also take part in sports competitions, for example, marathon distances, claiming to receive a prize fund.
Lovers
Amateur athletes to make money on sports, including. Running is quite difficult. Is it possible to purposefully participate in competitions with a prize fund, where the opponents are known and you will definitely be able to overtake them and win a prize (and therefore get a cash prize).
Basically, amateur athletes not only do not earn money in competitions, on the contrary, they pay entry fees to participate in them (and also pay for travel to the start venue, accommodation, meals, insurance, equipment, and so on). However, it is safe to say that by such races they can earn spiritual comfort and moral satisfaction from participating in competitions.
Long distance
What benefits do athletes get?
Professional athletes perceive marathons and half marathons as a source of income, for them participation in such distances is work. It is usually not easy for amateurs to make money on running competitions.
Amateur athletes can be conditionally divided into two groups: those who participate in competitions solely in order to win the marathon and receive a prize. The second type includes athletes who run just for fun, and prize money is not important to them.
However, it can be noted that some athletes who have not reached great heights can still earn money by participating in cross-country competitions. Moreover, the age of the runner, and the presence of some kind of regalia usually does not matter - they can be completely different. There are quite a few low level runners out there who have learned how to make money on the run.
And, surprisingly, there are a lot of veterans among such athletes. As a rule, they are familiar with the level and rules of each competition that is held near their place of residence.
And they try to perform only where they will win a prize with 100 percent certainty. It would seem that this is not entirely fair, but the participation of such athletes enhances any competition and helps to draw attention to them. And, as a result, both the participants and the organizers win.
True, it should be noted that in most cases the prize reward is quite modest. Sometimes this money can only pay for the road to the starts and preparation for them. Therefore, sometimes it is difficult to talk about such races as full-fledged earnings.
But where there are solid prize money at stake, the level of participating athletes is quite high. There you can compete for more significant amounts. For example, a winner of large marathon distances can become the owner of several thousand (and even tens of thousands) rubles, as well as valuable prizes from sponsors. However, in order to become a winner in such competitions, one should be, at a minimum, a port master.
Hence the conclusion: it is difficult to earn decent money in amateur competitions. The exception is major tournaments where professional athletes run. And the rest, at best, will pay off their trip at the expense of prize money, or even go into a “material minus”. However, they receive the most important thing - moral satisfaction from participation.
The mass nature of the races is organized by ordinary amateurs who come to competitions not to earn money (perhaps it doesn’t even occur to them, because the main thing for many is just to run to the finish line).
Participation is important for them, for this they pay for travel, accommodation, meals and entry fee. Of course, they also have a competitive spirit. When finishing, they will gladly tell how they overtook their main rival at a distance, or how they improved their last year's result. But the most important thing for such people is the very fact of participation.
What benefits do organizers receive?
Organizers can be roughly divided into three categories:
- state,
- commercial,
- non-commercial.
The first are, as a rule, various regional sports committees and federations. They, having received an order from above, organize a run (usually it is without an entry fee, for everyone, and participants live on them for free). Competitions, as a rule, are held at a fairly high level, there are judges and volunteers. As well as prizes - both winners and incentives.
By the way, such tournaments at a high level, as a rule, are held in large cities. In provincial towns, sometimes the organization of competitions is for show, at a low level. Although - not always, and everywhere there are both good and bad exceptions.
Organizers of commercial races, as a rule, seek to make money from this. Basically, it turns out thanks to the infusion of sponsors' money. Usually, commercial competitions are well organized, as a rule they have an entry fee (sometimes quite impressive). And both beginners and quite eminent athletes can compete (as mentioned above, they are attracted, among other things, by the opportunity to receive prize money).
The organizers of the so-called "non-commercial tournaments" are usually the same amateur athletes. They organize competitions for themselves, for friends, for equally caring people, often on sheer enthusiasm or with little financial investment. As a rule, it is difficult for organizers to make money at such tournaments. Everything is done for pleasure.
Advertising
Many athletes (usually active professional athletes) earn by participating in commercials. For example, advertising sportswear, footwear or other equipment.
The higher the level of an athlete, the more reputable firms attract him as the “face” of their company. And they pay a lot of money.
Coaching work
This type of income is for experienced athletes who have completed their careers. As a rule, most athletes after the completion of their performances go to coaching. They can teach at various state institutions and schools, for example, SDUSHOR. And they can organize their own private schools to train young talents or even conduct individual training - both with children and adults.
As a rule, for the legitimized teaching work, it is necessary to obtain a higher education. Therefore, many athletes during their sports career or at the end of it study at universities and academies of physical culture and sports.
The more famous the athlete, the more money he can earn thanks to his coaching work. Of course, coaches can teach in small and state institutions not for a large salary, however, each of the coaches, even if he did not achieve great sports results in his time and did not set world records, can bring up hundreds and thousands of little stars, one of which can grow into a real world star.
Coaching requires a special talent – teaching. It is not enough to be the best sportsmen. You need to be both a psychologist and, in fact, a second dad or mom for a young athlete.