The additional cost might be a small percentage of the budget but what does it buy you? If you can't justify it, it will get cut. All the other frivolous things have pointy haired managers advocating for them.
This happens a lot for any sport considered fun or prestigious. For example the prize money from competitive programming in the 2000s was actually pretty decent (topcoder paid out 100k total). Then they realized the top people will still show up even if there's no prize.
Oh I definitely understand. I just think it's ridiculous. The event is about the olympians. Spending a fraction of a percent of the budget of the event on the price seems fair.
Oh boy, if I am the best in the whole world at my discipline, and my performance has been broadcasted to everybody, and there's billions here and there made because of it. For sure I want my damn medal to be pure gold.
This happens a lot for any sport considered fun or prestigious. For example the prize money from competitive programming in the 2000s was actually pretty decent (topcoder paid out 100k total). Then they realized the top people will still show up even if there's no prize.