Singapore leaves major Games medal incentives to private sector while government focuses on ‘broader’ sporting base: Edwin Tong

DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS ON HOW PARALYMPIANS AND OLYMPIANS REWARDED

Responding to these calls, Mr Tong said that the incentive sizes are put up by non-government entities such as the Tote Board and decided by them.

“Between the Olympic and the Paralympic structure, there are differences, but these differences don’t mean one is better, necessarily better than the other,” said Mr Tong. 

For instance, for the Olympics, the first and only gold that is rewarded under the incentive program is the first gold, which is worth S$1 million.

But under the Paralympic programme, medallists are given S$500,000 for each gold, up to a maximum of three gold medals.

Other factors also affect the private sector’s decision, said Mr Tong.

“They have to think in terms of whether this is sustainable. Is this an incentive program that drives the right behaviour? And how long term can this be?”

For instance, for swimming, there are 141 Paralympic swimming events for which medals are awarded, as opposed to 37 in the Olympics.

“So, when the private sector as well as the Tote Board looks at this, these are amongst the considerations that they have in mind,” he said. 

Responding to comparisons to other nations with similar cash incentives between Paralympians and Olympians, Mr Tong said that Singapore still pays among the highest in absolute terms. 

“(Assoc Prof) Lim spoke about Canada, but I think (he) would probably know that Canada’s incentive for a Paralympic gold is C$20,000 (US$14,500), we are at S$500,000,” he said. 

Likewise, countries mentioned by Ms Chandradasm, such as Japan, Korea, France, and Australia, have lower reward amounts for Paralympic medallists compared to Singapore.

Mr Tong also noted that the reward amounts for Paralympians have been pushed up over the years.

In 2021, the cash reward for a Paralympic gold medal was doubled from S$200,000 to S$400,000.

Then, in 2022, the cash reward for a gold medal was raised from S$400,000 to S$500,000. 

“I can understand and I appreciate entirely why members have said, let’s find parity, because there is, in fact, no difference between the way in which our para-athletes, train, put effort, make sacrifices, as well as our Olympic athletes,” he said. 

“But let’s not also lose sight of the amounts in absolute terms and how much we support our athletes.”