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Comment (BEIJING -- Canoeists are not exactly the glamour athletes of China's Olympic team. Their sport is one of the most obscure in the country. But if they manage to add to China's gold-medal harvest this week, they will be rewarded with instant wealth.
One of Beijing's biggest breweries - located just down the road from the Olympic canoe/kayak basin - is pledging a cash bonus of $150,000 to any Chinese canoeist who wins gold at the Olympics. Any silver or bronze medalists will get bonuses of about $75,000 or $30,000.
In addition to these prizes, more bonuses could be showered on the medalists from various governments, corporate sponsors and private businesses. The potential bonanza would be the biggest that China's little-known canoeists have ever received.
The prize from the beer company is just one example of how China's Olympians are cashing in on the booming economy and the fast-growing resources of Chinese governments. Its medal-winning athletes will be the best re...
