2024 Olympics: Bruno Le Maire proposes tax exemption for athletes' bonuses
The Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, took a position in favor of the tax exemption of bonuses awarded to French medalists at the Olympic Games, emphasizing their exceptional nature.
During his appearance on the program “Bienvenue aux Jeux” in Le Figaro this afternoon, Bruno Le Maire reacted to the comments of David Douillet, who had strongly criticized the imposition of these bonuses. The former Olympic judo champion had highlighted the injustice of this imposition in relation to winnings from games of chance or televised games.
“I will propose that they be tax-exempt in the next 2025 budget. These are exceptional bonuses and exceptional results. It rewards years and years of sacrifice, effort, work, it deserves exceptional treatment,” declared Bruno Le Maire. He added that this decision would be up to the next majority, but that he would prepare the necessary measures for this tax exemption to be put in place.
The question of tax exemption for Olympic bonuses was also raised by Les Républicains MP Olivier Marleix. Yesterday, he proposed legislation to exempt from taxes the bonuses received by French Olympic champions. “A consensual PPL (proposed law, editor’s note) to begin the legislature and continue a moment of national unity in the hemicycle! “, he said on the X network.
David Douillet, double Olympic judo champion (1996, 2000), opened the debate by describing the imposition of these bonuses as unfair. “For some athletes, it’s pocket money, and for others, in small sports, it’s huge. Tax this? I find it a shame,” he declared on RMC on Monday, recalling that these athletes obtained their medal after 10 to 15 years of training.
The bonuses for medalists are currently 80 euros for gold, 000 euros for silver and 40 euros for bronze, according to the scale established by the Ministry of Sports. These amounts were increased compared to the Tokyo Olympics in 000, where the bonuses were 20, 000 and 2021 euros respectively. Each member of a medal-winning collective also receives a bonus corresponding to their medal level.
Hector M.
