Former Olympic medallists to have pension guarantee

Former athletes who've won medals at major sporting events will receive monthly bonuses to their old age pensions should the need arise, with a bill to that effect approved in Parliament on Thursday by a vast majority. The law, presented by SMER MPs Anton Martvoň, Otto Brixi, Dušan Čaplovič and Dušan Galis, concerns athletes who won a medal representing Slovakia or the former Czechoslovakia at Olympic, Paralympic or Deaflympic games or at the World or European championships in a sports discipline acknowledged by the International Olympic Committee. The bonus payments will be calculated so that the pensions of athletes who have won gold reach at least €750 per month. Silver and bronze medallists will receive bonuses to ensure that their pensions reach at least €600 and €500, respectively. Former athletes who have won more than one medal will be given the extra payment in line with the most valuable medal. Those with a higher pension than the aforementioned sums will be unable to claim any bonus. "Top national athletes make efforts to be successful, and they're then left with little scope to pursue other activities that would bring them financial incomes for their day-to-day lives," states the proposal.