Photo: Daimler AG
In post-Soviet Russia, all the sportsmen and women that received medals at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi have yet another reason to feel good about themselves from now on.
Each of the 33 medalists - of which 13 won gold, 11 silver and nine of them bronze – were handed the keys to a brand new Mercedes-Benz SUV by the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev yesterday, in a ceremony that took place at Vasilevsky Spusk.
A Mercedes-Benz GLK (X204) was handed to each of the bronze winners, and that comes on top of the $52,000 in prize money.
The prizes for the silver medalists went up a notch, as each of them received the keys to a Mercedes-Benz M-Class (W166) and $76,000 in prize money.
Each of the gold winners went home – as expected, looking at the other prizes – with a brand new Mercedes-Benz GL -Class (X166) and $120,000 to spend on whatever they please.
“I was a bit shocked at the car I was given. Of course I knew what kind of model it would be, but I didn't totally believe it.” said biathlete Anton Shipulin, who won the gold medal for his efforts in the Russian relay team and is now driving the largest SUV in the Mercedes-Benz lineup.
It was the first time in two decades since Russia last won the most medals in the Winter Olympics, which is probably the reason for the generosity of the government when it comes to medalist prizes.
Countries like Switzerland, for example, have measured their generosity towards their olympic winners in a slightly different manner, with double gold winner Dario Cologna receiving a live... pig for his achievements in Sochi.
Between a Mercedes-Benz SUV and a pig, which can either be your pet or provide you with a generous amount of bacon when and if the time comes... what would you choose?
Story via RIA Novosti
A Mercedes-Benz GLK (X204) was handed to each of the bronze winners, and that comes on top of the $52,000 in prize money.
The prizes for the silver medalists went up a notch, as each of them received the keys to a Mercedes-Benz M-Class (W166) and $76,000 in prize money.
Each of the gold winners went home – as expected, looking at the other prizes – with a brand new Mercedes-Benz GL -Class (X166) and $120,000 to spend on whatever they please.
“I was a bit shocked at the car I was given. Of course I knew what kind of model it would be, but I didn't totally believe it.” said biathlete Anton Shipulin, who won the gold medal for his efforts in the Russian relay team and is now driving the largest SUV in the Mercedes-Benz lineup.
It was the first time in two decades since Russia last won the most medals in the Winter Olympics, which is probably the reason for the generosity of the government when it comes to medalist prizes.
Countries like Switzerland, for example, have measured their generosity towards their olympic winners in a slightly different manner, with double gold winner Dario Cologna receiving a live... pig for his achievements in Sochi.
Between a Mercedes-Benz SUV and a pig, which can either be your pet or provide you with a generous amount of bacon when and if the time comes... what would you choose?
Story via RIA Novosti
Google News