KUALA LUMPUR: The athlete who wins the nation's first-ever Olympic gold medal at the Paris Olympics (Jul 26-Aug 11) stands to receive a condominium worth RM1 million, while three shuttlers could also pocket an additional RM1 million in cash.
The luxury condominium unit at Top Residency, Setia Alam, is being sponsored by Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai who is the founder and executive chairman of Top Glove, as well as the owner of the Top Residency development.
This incentive is open to all 26 national athletes who will be competing in Paris.
The RM1 million cash incentive is being sponsored by Sengheng executive chairman Lim Kim Heng, but only three badminton players -- Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik and Chen Tang Jie -- are eligible for this.
The trio are products of the SS Junior Badminton Talent Scholarship Programme, established in 2012, which had been supported by Sengheng.
These sponsored incentives will complement the RM1 million which will be paid out via the government's National Sports Incentive Scheme to gold medal winners.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the sponsored incentives are a way for the private sector to acknowledge and show appreciation towards national athletes who win the first gold.
Yeoh officiated the sponsorship presentation event in Bukit Jalil today.
"This first gold -- if we are successful in Paris -- is going to be the pride of nation," said Yeoh.
"This is a platform for the private sector to honor and thank our athletes when they bring back gold.
"The condo is only for the first gold medal winner, so if there are two gold medallists, only the first winner will get it.
"If a doubles pair such as Aaron-Wooi Yik win it, then they will have to share it. Perhaps they can stay together," she added in jest.
Yeoh disclosed that the Road to Gold committee, who negotiated the sponsorship incentive deals, are also working on other sponsored incentives which will be announced soon.