Every nation, because of how sports programs and health-care systems are structured, has a different method of financing its national-team athletes for the Olympics and the Paralympics. A sampling:
FRANCE The national Paralympic sports organization, known as the Fédération Française Handisport, supports athletes by compensating their employers up to €1,200 per month (roughly $1,800) for time missed while training for major events. All 20,000 athletes under the organization’s umbrella also receive stipends of approximately $1,560 per year. No health insurance is provided because of France’s comprehensive national health care system. Medal bonuses are awarded by the individual sports’ national governing bodies.
Read the full story here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/sports/othersports/06paraside.html?ref=othersports
