Like football, Olympic medals bring fame and fortune to some athletes, but how much governments are willing to fund Olympians is very mixed.
In the United States, athletes receive little government funding. Between 2009-2012 the U.S. Olympic Committee had a budget of nearly $800 million, but only 10 percent went directly to supporting athletes. Germany's athletes earn a little more than $2,000 a month. McKinsey estimates China's annual sports budget is around $700 million.
