Gold

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Made these cookies tonight.

IMG_9108

And now I’m watchin’ The Office Season 1.  Jim and Pam are so cute.

 

Today was a total SAHM day that revolved around little Henry.  The Husband asked me what I did today, and all I could say was it was a whirlwind of feedings and diapers and outfit changes and smiles.  I did, however, use naptimes to read the first few chapters of The Sun Also Rises – I found a box of books from high school lit class – and watch the men’s Olympics triathlon, which was good but not half as dramatic as the women’s race.  I rode my stationary bike while fast forwarding to all the good parts – a grand total of 45 minutes. 

 

That’s all I’ve got tonight, so here’s an interesting story for you:  What’s The Cost of an Olympic Medal?  Did you know…

 

The physical medals themselves have value, of course. A gold medal, which is made of both silver and gold, is estimated to cost approximately $1,000. Governments also give money to their winning athletes, although the reward varies by country. In Singapore, the national Olympic committee awards gold medalists $800,000; if you’re from Kyrgyzstan, you get $200,000; in Russia, $135,000. By contrast, American athletes get just $25,000 per gold — on which, unlike in most other countries, they must pay tax… Of course, just reaching the Olympics incurs huge costs. In the U.K., every gold medal is estimated to have  required $15 million of investment.

{ 23 comments }

 

  • Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction August 7, 2012, 9:29 pm

    $800,000 for Singapore?! Yikes!

  • Jessica @ New Girl, New City August 7, 2012, 9:37 pm

    Those cookies look ahhhmazing! You must be getting more efficient at the mommy thing if you have time for making cookies, yay!

  • Julia August 7, 2012, 9:44 pm

    I have such a hard time accepting that in the US we TAX OUR ATHLETES! They go to the olympics, representing our country, receive a small stipend, and then the government has them pay them back. I heard from a coworker yesterday that they only take home about $9,000 after taxes. Makes me sad that they become national heroes and yet we hardly recognize them for their work back at home.

    Those cookies look incredible by the way!

    • Jessica August 7, 2012, 9:56 pm

      They’re awarded prize money, which is income to them, and all Americans are taxed on ALL income. Articles like to over exaggerate things, like saying everyone pays 35% tax on their medal winnings, which is probably not true. 35% is the HIGHEST tax that one might have to pay, but since most of them are “professional” athletes, they can also deduct all of their training expenses making their net income much lower and therefore reducing their tax rate. Everyone has to pay taxes, I don’t think they should get a special exemption.

      • Kristen August 7, 2012, 10:29 pm

        If I could “like” this comment Facebook-style, I would.

    • HTPDad August 8, 2012, 4:17 am

      they’re athletes, not gods – if some one working two jobs to support their family pay taxes, why not some one privileged enough to spend years on a game?

      And yes, almost no one that complains about taxes has any idea of how the tax system works.

    • Jackie August 9, 2012, 3:42 pm

      Politifact did an interesting assessment of this: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/01/americans-tax-reform/do-olympic-medalists-owe-9000-irs/

      Most won’t end up taxed since their deductions will be higher than their earnings. For someone like Michael Phelps who makes plenty in endorsements and sponsorships, he would be taxed on his income like anyone else.

  • Ellen @ Wannabe Health Nut August 7, 2012, 10:11 pm

    Looking at those cookies late at night is dangeroussss. Yum! Glad you had a relaxing day with plenty of baby time. 🙂

  • Sam @ Better With Sprinkles August 7, 2012, 10:17 pm

    Mmm…cookies.

    Wow, I guess with US winning so many medals, the government just doesn’t want to pay for that many of them? Only reason I can think of for why they’re so far below other countries.

  • Sana August 7, 2012, 10:20 pm

    In my next life I am going to be an athlete for Singapore.

  • Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs August 7, 2012, 10:20 pm

    Love The Office — early Jim & Pam are too cute!

  • Maura @ My Healthy 'Ohana August 7, 2012, 10:27 pm

    Very interesting article…my husband and I were wondering about this, and actually we assumed that the athletes didn’t make any money from it (at least directly from their country)!

  • Kristen August 7, 2012, 10:36 pm

    Much like Jessica – I think income should be taxed. I’m in Canada – and I’m not sure that our government gives money for medals – but if they do, if it is considered a “prize” I don’t think it would be taxed (here, if you win the lottery, it isn’t taxed) but if it is considered earned income, it would be. And goodness gracious – if Kobe Bryant and Lebron James win gold and get money for it? You better believe I think they should be taxed.

  • Army Amy* August 7, 2012, 11:32 pm

    Just thinking about The Sun Also Rises is giving me flashbacks to my mean 10th grade English teacher. Blech.*

  • Margaret August 7, 2012, 11:46 pm

    I agree that athletes who are awarded prize money should be taxed on the prize. I’m a tax accountant, I know how complex the tax system is, and it’s complex because we keep providing exemptions to small groups of people for very specific things.

    The tax dollar amounts are a max – if you’re single and your income was already over $180,000, you’ll pay 35% on the additional $25,000, so that’s $8,750 – the $9k number that gets thrown around. But if $25,000 for a gold medal is your only income, first you’ll get a deduction of almost $6,000, and unless you’re a kid being claimed by your parents, an exemption of almost $4,000, so roughly $15,500 taxable income, at a mix of 10% and 15% brackets, so about $2,300 in tax. Plus, you might have other deductions if competing is your “business”.

    Obviously articles have to make generalizations, but when it comes to tax and the related politics, generalizations can be dangerous, so I hope this example shows that it’s not that much of a burden, unless you’re already earning a high income.

  • laura August 8, 2012, 5:22 am

    i thought the triathlon was so dramatic! The guy who got bronze did it despite a 15sec time penalty! So impressive

  • Marie-Sophie August 8, 2012, 6:08 am

    In Germany, the athletes receive EUR 15.000 for a gold medal (which equals $ 18.400) – and as far as I know that is also NOT the net amount …

  • Molly @ RDexposed August 8, 2012, 8:16 am

    Early The Office episodes are classics! Also, thanks for sharing the medal facts. Very interesteing.

  • Samantha Angela August 8, 2012, 9:07 am

    I still think that $25,000 is a lot of money for a gold medal regardless of what other nations pay…especially from a country that is always so successful at the Olympics and also invests a lot of money into athletics already. It makes sense that less successful countries (like Singapore) would be willing to give their athletes more money for a gold.

  • Katie August 8, 2012, 9:28 am

    I’m reading The Paris Wife, about Ernest Hemingway’s relationship with his first wife Hadley, for book club. You should pick it up if you havent read it already.

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats August 8, 2012, 11:01 am

    $25,000 minus tax!?!?!? That’s awful!!! Clearly they don’t do it for the money!

  • Jackie August 9, 2012, 3:44 pm

    I worked full time for a year as a Jesuit Volunteer (an Americorps affiliate program) and received $4000 to put towards education (tuition or loans) from the government. *That* was taxed! So I don’t feel bad for athletes. And I doubt they feel bad for themselves!

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