BENGALURU (Reuters) - World Athletics' decision to reward Olympic champions with cash prizes is a sign of progress and can spur other global sports federations to do the same for their athletes, New Zealand shot put great Valerie Adams said on Thursday.

World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe said earlier this month that the governing body would pay athletics gold medallists at the Paris Games $50,000 each from a prize pot of $2.4 million, in a move that signalled the end of 128 years of tradition.