MELAKA: Incentives for national athletes who win gold medals at the Paris Olympics are expected to increase as more parties come forward to offer rewards, according to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
Yeoh said these contributions will motivate the 26 national athletes aiming for the podium in Paris.
"From the government, it remains at RM1 million for gold medal winners, but now private companies are contacting the Fast Track Road To Gold (RTG) committee to offer additional rewards to athletes who bring home gold medals. However, these rewards will be announced later by the committee," she said.
Yeoh was speaking to the media after launching the Basic Training Skills Programme (KLAS): Special Swimming for the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency, an event also attended by Kota Melaka Member of Parliament Khoo Poay Tiong and Melaka Youth, Sports, and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman V.P. Shanmugam.
Under the National Sports Council incentive scheme (SHAKAM), a gold medal at the Olympics and Paralympics is worth RM1 million, a silver RM300,000, and a bronze RM100,000.
It was announced last month that national athletes who bring home medals from the Paris Olympics will also be rewarded with Chery SUVs.
The Paris Olympics is scheduled to take place from July 26-Aug 11.