Olympic icon Michael Johnson has openly acknowledged the stark financial disparity between track and field and football, stating that athletics simply cannot compete with the monetary might of the world's most popular sport.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist, who now runs the Grand Slam Track initiative aimed at boosting the profile of athletics, admitted that the financial gap is a significant hurdle. "We’re not trying to compete with football," Johnson said. "We can’t."
The Financial Reality of Athletics
Johnson’s comments come as Grand Slam Track seeks to revolutionise the sport by introducing a new competitive format. However, the former sprinter emphasised that without substantial investment, athletics will continue to lag behind football in terms of revenue and global appeal.
"Football has a massive head start," Johnson explained. "The money in football is astronomical, and we’re not even in the same league." He pointed to the Premier League’s multi-billion-pound broadcasting deals as an example of football’s financial dominance.
Call for Investment
Johnson’s initiative aims to make track and field more engaging for fans and sponsors alike. Yet, he stressed that without increased funding, the sport will struggle to attract top talent and maintain its relevance.
"We need to find ways to make athletics more commercially viable," he said. "That means better marketing, more exciting events, and ultimately, more money flowing into the sport."
While Grand Slam Track is a step in the right direction, Johnson admitted that it’s just one piece of the puzzle. "This isn’t a quick fix," he said. "But it’s a start."
