Russia will award each of its medallists at this year’s Olympics Games in Rio a BMW sports utility vehicle and at least 1.7 million roubles ($A32,850), state news agency TASS reported on Thursday. Russia placed fourth in the overall medal count at the Games with a total of 56 - 19 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze.
Gold medal winners will get 4 million roubles and a BMW X6, which sells new in Moscow for about 4.5 million roubles $US70,000 ($A92,000). Silver medallists will receive 2.5 million roubles and a BMW X5, and bronze medallists will get 1.7 million roubles and a BMW X3. The medallists are also eligible for other rewards from Russian regional administrations, including the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars in subsidies for housing.