Australia’s best swimmers have been told they’ll face hefty fines if they are to mention the name of mining magnate Gina Rinehart while competing at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The Hancock Prospecting chair announced on Thursday evening that she would offer a bonus scheme worth thousands of dollars for swimmers who claim medals at this year’s games.
Despite Mrs Rinehart’s act of generosity, swimmers have been given strict instructions to make no mention of their benefactor until after the event is complete.
Sources close to the swim team have claimed the swimmers have been warned if they do mention Mrs Rinehart’s name, they are in breach of their official contracts.
Australian Chef de Mission Petria Thomas has stated that Mrs Rinehart’s gifts are separate to any sanctioned agreement with Commonwealth Games Australia.
‘That’s not something that CGA is involved in whatsoever,’ Thomas told The Herald Sun.
Australia’s best swimmera have been told they must not mention Gina Rinehart’s gifts during the Commonwealth Games- or they risk breaching their contracts
Swimming poster-boy Kyle Chalmers (pictured) is taking centre stage at the event in Glasgow
‘I mean, good luck to the swimmers, I guess. They’ve got someone backing that performance but that’s a separate matter for them,’ Thomas added.
Swimmers in individual events will receive a $20,000 reward from Mrs Rinehart if they bring home a gold medal, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze.
Individual athletes who manage to break a world record will be awarded $30,000 while teams who break global records will receive $7,500 per person.
Athletes who win multiple medals will receive the full amount for each prize.
The full payments will go into their bank account within two weeks of the Games ending.
‘There is something very uplifting about seeing an Australian athlete stand on the podium while our flag is raised,’ Mrs Rinehart said in a statement this week.
‘Such exciting times make Australians proud and deserve to be celebrated.’
Mrs Rinehart noted that a swimmer winning three individual gold medals and breaking a world record would earn $90,000.
She said she was proud to show her support for the Aussie team.
‘Our athletes are outstanding ambassadors for Australia. They are proud to compete for our country, and inspire millions of Australians, especially young people,’ she said.
‘These bonuses are a way of Australia saying thank-you and showing the appreciation our athletes deserve…
‘Given the size of our population, we punch well above our weight on the world stage!’
Australia is by far the best performing country in the Commonwealth Games’ swimming competition.
The country has won 330 gold medals since the first Games in 1930.
Mrs Rinehart and her business are largest private supporters of Australian Olympic sports. The businesswoman and Hancock also make yearly payments to many top-tier Australian swimmers.
Eight time Olympic medallist Cate Campbell has said: ‘I don’t say this lightly, but Gina Rinehart saved swimming.’
