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Cash boost for para athletes

SINGAPORE — Team Singapore’s para athletes could soon get a bigger share of the money pie for their achievements at major Games such as the ASEAN Para Games (APG), Asian Para Games and Paralympic Games.

Swimmers Theresa Goh (centre), Yip Pin Xiu and Toh Wei Soong at the athletes achievement award reception yesterday. Team Singapore was recognised for its record APG medal haul. Photo: Jason Quah

Swimmers Theresa Goh (centre), Yip Pin Xiu and Toh Wei Soong at the athletes achievement award reception yesterday. Team Singapore was recognised for its record APG medal haul. Photo: Jason Quah

SINGAPORE — Team Singapore’s para athletes could soon get a bigger share of the money pie for their achievements at major Games such as the ASEAN Para Games (APG), Asian Para Games and Paralympic Games.

Under the current Athletes’ Achievement Awards (AAA) scheme, para athletes are awarded S$2,000 for an individual gold medal, while a Paralympics gold will reap a reward of S$200,000.

However, the amount is significantly less than what their able-bodied colleagues get under the Multi-million Dollar Awards Programme, which awards S$10,000, S$200,000 and S$1 million for an individual SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games gold respectively.

Teo-Koh Sock Miang, president of the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) and Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), said yesterday that the SNPC are exploring an increase in the cash rewards for all three major Games, and they plan to meet with primary sponsor Tote Board and Singapore Pools this year for discussions.

“One of our tasks is to look at what the other countries around the region are providing,” said Teo-Koh. “That gives us good knowledge, and a good gauge. We will see how the discussions go ... we will try to arrive at something that is closer to what is provided for the SEA Games, Asian Games.”

Sailor Jovin Tan, who is set to compete at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, said: “We put in the same kind of effort (as able-bodied athletes) and we spend even more sometimes. But the monetary awards are so different, and I’m hoping it can be at least 50 per cent of what the able-bodied athletes get.”

Last night’s awards reception at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre saw Team Singapore’s 154-strong contingent rewarded for their record APG haul of 24 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals, with a total of S$45,000 disbursed to the gold medallists. Swimmers Theresa Goh — who was Singapore’s most bemedalled athlete with a total of five golds and a bronze — Benson Tan (four golds and a silver) and Toh Wei Soong (three golds and a silver) were the biggest earners, reaping S$6,000 each for a maximum of three gold medals.

Special mention was also reserved for the support that Singaporeans showed at the Dec 3-9 APG, which saw more than 124,000 spectators across the 15 sports and more than 634,000 visitors turning out at the APG Carnival, while online viewers on the official APG YouTube channel hit a high of 4.2 million views.

Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, is hopeful that the legacy of the APG will live beyond the December Games. “The Government will continue to support our athletes in their sporting aspirations at major Games,” she said during her speech.

“I hope the APG will help to spur greater sports participation among those with disabilities. One thing we will do in coming months is to introduce programmes for disability sports like badminton, swimming, boccia and table tennis at five Centres of Expertise.

“We believe sport should be accessible to persons of all abilities and I hope more Singaporeans from all walks of life will take up sport and enjoy the benefits it brings.”

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