07.09.2026 10:00
Following the success of the Sultans of the Net, who became European champions for the second consecutive time by defeating Italy 3-2, the prize money has also become a matter of curiosity. Champion Turkey won a 500,000 euro first-place prize from the CEV, while according to the legislation, national team players can be awarded Turkish Lira equivalent to a maximum of 150 Republican Gold coins per person.
The Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team defeated Italy 3-2 in the European Championship final, bringing the trophy to Turkey once again. Following the historic success of the Sultans of the Net, the financial reward of the championship has also been revealed.
500 THOUSAND EURO CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE FROM CEV
According to the prize distribution set by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) for the tournament, European champion Turkey received a cash prize of 500 thousand euros. Italy, which finished second in the tournament, was allocated 250 thousand euros, while Serbia, which came in third, received 150 thousand euros.
UP TO 150 REPUBLIC GOLD COINS PER PLAYER
The prize dimension of the championship in Turkey is evaluated within the scope of the Regulation on Rewarding Those Who Show Outstanding Success in Sports Services and Activities.
According to the legislation, if a first-place finish is achieved in team competitions in the senior category at European championships in Olympic and Paralympic sports, each athlete can be awarded Turkish Lira equivalent to a maximum of 150 Republic Gold Coins. The important point here is that the regulation stipulates the prize as “up to 150 units” rather than a fixed amount of “150 units.”
PLAYERS' PRIZES COULD REACH MILLIONS
Based on the calculation where the Republic Gold Coin is 44,773 TL, 150 Republic Gold Coins correspond to approximately 6 million 715 thousand 950 TL. If payments are made at the upper limit to all 14 members of the national team roster, the total amount for the athletes reaches approximately 94 million 23 thousand 300 TL. However, these figures should not be considered as finalized payment amounts, as gold prices may change and the regulation terms the prize as “at most.”
WHAT DOES THE REGULATION SAY ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP?
In the legislation, the prize amounts for team competitions in the senior category at European championships are regulated as follows:
Each athlete of the team that comes in first place can be awarded Turkish Lira equivalent to up to 150 Republic Gold Coins, each athlete of the team that comes in second place up to 75, and each athlete of the team that comes in third place up to 40 Republic Gold Coins.
Additionally, the frequency of the championship also affects the amount to be paid. According to the regulation, up to 50 percent of the determined prize can be given for annual events, 75 percent for biennial events, and the full amount for events held every three or four years.
TOTAL PRIZE COULD INCREASE FURTHER
The earnings the Sultans of the Net will obtain due to the championship may not be limited to the CEV prize and state awards that can be granted under the legislation. Additional success bonuses determined by the federation and bonuses from sponsorships could also increase the total prize amount.