The Russian Ministry of Sports is outlining a plan to establish a “golden hundred”—a cohort of top athletes who will receive fair compensation designed to reduce the lure of changing national allegiance for sport. This initiative is seen by some as a way to preserve the depth and color of Russia’s athletic disciplines, especially in light of the pressures athletes face to switch citizenship for better opportunities. A prominent Olympic champion and State Duma deputy, Svetlana Zhurova, has weighed in on the discussion, emphasizing the need to stabilize talent within the country and maintain a strong competitive edge on the world stage. According to Zhurova, there is a broader concern that many athletes have previously depended on prize money and awards from international events to sustain themselves, and that the current financial framework has not kept pace with the economics of elite sport. The result has, in the eyes of advocates, contributed to a climate where athletes feel compelled to seek rewards beyond the domestic system, even at the cost of national representation.
Officials say the proposal involves raising salaries for athletes who are part of the national teams. The Sports Training Center aims to increase annual pay from earlier levels of around 147 thousand rubles to roughly 200 thousand rubles. The plan also includes the introduction of a formal category for elite athletes, described as a “golden hundred.” While proponents stress the importance of rewarding high performance and ensuring athletes can live and train with dignity, they caution that the final decision about creating the new elite group has not yet been made. The discussions reflect a broader effort to balance financial support with the demands of international competition, and to keep Russia’s top performers from pursuing opportunities overseas under more favorable terms.
In a related development, a State Duma deputy recently noted that there is no need for Russian athletes to rush into changing citizenship. The emphasis is on building a sustainable domestic system that retains talent while offering competitive incentives. This stance follows earlier remarks indicating that Russian athletes could face restrictions on competing under their national flag if certain reforms were not in place. Stakeholders argue that maintaining national representation should be a priority, while also ensuring that athletes receive remuneration that aligns with their contributions to the sport’s prestige on the world stage. Overall, the dialogue centers on retention, fair compensation, and the ongoing evolution of how elite athletes are supported within Russia.