The decision of World Athletics (WA) to dish out $50,000 to its gold medallists at the Paris Olympics is “an interesting and smart political signal,” according to a German sports economist. While other sports federations and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have criticised the WA over its decision, German sports economist Christoph Breuer says that it transcends a mere financial reward for the successful athletes. Breuer, a professor at Cologne’s sports university, told dpa that it was the “interesting and smart political signal, for athletics, for the world governing body and preside…