Moldova offer cash bonuses for medal winners

Chisinau: Moldova have followed the lead of other former Soviet Republics by offering cash incentives to medal winners at next month's Sydney Olympics.

The Moldovan government this week approved $ 50,000, $ 30,000 and $ 20,000 dollars bonuses for a gold, silver and bronze respectively. They also offered $ 5,000, $ 3,000 and $ 2,000 for places fourth to sixth.

Earlier this year, most of the former Soviet states, including Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, announced cash bonuses for Sydney, while Belarus offered free housing to medal winners.

Moldova, winner of a silver and a bronze - in Atlanta four years ago, are sending 34 athletes to Sydney to compete in seven sports.

Their best medal chances are Viktor Florescu, runner-up at last year's World Judo Championships in Birmingham, England, and weightlifter Vadim Vakarchyuk, who won a silver medal at the European championship in Bulgaria earlier this year.

(c) Reuters Limited.