Billionaire Gina Rinehart is offering cash bonuses for Australian swimmers who break records and win medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games – but they’ve reportedly been warned not to thank her in interviews.

An announcement from Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting as the Games opened in Glasgow said the incentives would give the swimmers an opportunity to earn “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses”.

The mining magnate ­– who was last week photographed poolside with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson at a resort in Italy – pledged that individual swimmers who win records will be paid $30,000.

Gold medal winners will take home a $20,000 bonus, silver medal winners $15,000 and bronze $10,000, with smaller cash incentives are also offered for relay events.

“Our swimmers set a Commonwealth Games record by winning 28 gold medals on the Gold Coast in 2018 and came close to matching that mark with 25 golds in Birmingham in 2022,” Rinehart said.

“I’m hoping that, with these bonuses on offer, we can set a new record this year in Glasgow.”

Australia is expected to dominate in the pool – with medal favourites including Mollie O’Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Cam McEvoy and Kyle Chalmers – so members of the Dolphins seem to have a good shot at pocketing some extra cash.

However, the incentives are only offered to swimmers and come as athletes in other sports lament a lack of financial backing, despite Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) providing a $5000 grant to every member of the Glasgow team.

Freestyle star Chalmers acknowledged Australia’s swimmers were “very lucky” with the level of support they receive compared to some other sports.

“I’m super grateful to have the support of CGA to get us here, but to be able to have some medal incentive, it gives us a lot more purpose and reason,” he said ahead of the Games opening on Friday morning.

“Otherwise you get a medal and the uniform … so (I’m) very grateful to have supporters.”

Hancock Prospecting’s media release included previous quotes from swimmers expressing gratitude for Rinehart’s ongoing support of the swim team – including from Pallister, red-hot favourite in the 400m freestyle at Glasgow.

But Nine newspapers have reported that members of the Commonwealth Games swim team have been explicitly told by CGA not to thank the sponsor during interviews after their races – an instruction which seems to be in line with broader team guidelines regarding endorsements and rewards.

Australia’s chef de mission Petria Thomas distanced CGA from Rinehart’s bonus scheme when asked about it ahead of the Games opening on Thursday .

“That’s a separate arrangement and it’s not something that Commonwealth Games Australia is involved in whatsoever,” said Thomas, a nine-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist herself.

“Good luck to the swimmers, I guess. They have someone backing that performance, but that’s a separate matter for them.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the Commonwealth Games opening via the Doctor Who time machine. Photo: AAP

King Charles and Queen Camilla kicked off proceedings at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony at Glasgow’s Hydro in style by arriving via the iconic Doctor Who time machine.

Able-bodied and para athletes from the 74 competing nations were then welcomed to a makeshift Glaswegian garden as an electro-folk duo weaved Celtic influences into a contemporary dance and rap.

The end of the athletes’ parade was followed by an appearance by Nessie the Loch Ness Monster, actor Sam Heughan of Outlander fame and bagpipers, with the ceremony also featuring a flash mob under the Glasgow Central station clock, and dancing unicorns with traffic cones that paid tribute to the city’s underground club culture.

A total of 215 gold medals are up for grabs across 10 sports in the pared-back Commonwealth Games, which is being presented in Glasgow on a bare-bones budget after the Victorian government’s shock withdrawal as hosts in 2023.

Australia’s 257-member Glasgow team boasts some of the nation’s biggest sporting stars – including Chalmers and pole-vaulting flag bearer Nina Kennedy – with two early wins in the bowls on the morning of the opening ceremony getting the team off to a strong start.

But day one, especially the swimming finals on Saturday morning (AEST), will be the first big statement.

“A strong start to any Games is always helpful,” Thomas said.

“The swimming is normally at the start of the program and our swim team is very strong – they do a great job in terms of winning medals and doing PBsd.

“It’s always good to have that at the start … but we’re strong across the board, in many sports.”

–with AAP