| By Lin Xinyi | ||
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Even though Lee Hui Chan (right) will not pocket a single won as part of the winning football team, nothing gives him more joy than wearing South Korea's colours. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI |
WHEN kegler Michael Mak struck gold in the boys' singles and team events, he got more than he bargained for.
The Hong Konger is set to receive HK$10,000 for each gold medal, or HK$20,000 (S$3,800) in total.
Hong Kong, who will reward their silver medallists with HK$5,000 each and bronze medallists with HK$3,500 each, are not the only team to offer their Asian Youth Games (AYG) athletes incentives.
One of the most generous teams in that respect are Bahrain. They will award their athletics boys' 4x200m relay team with US$3,000 (S$4,400) each after their bronze medal-winning performance.
A gold medal would have been worth US$10,000, and a silver US$5,000.
Meanwhile, Thailand, who finished third in the medal tally, will give their gold medallists 200,000 baht (S$8,500) each. Silver and bronze medallists will each receive 100,000 baht and 50,000 baht respectively.
Thailand's deputy chef de mission Supitr Samahito said the monetary rewards were aimed at motivating the athletes.
'Most of the athletes come from poor families,' she explained. 'They need the money to pay for their education.'
Bangladesh's rewards scheme of 100,000 taka (S$2,100) for gold; 75,000 taka for silver; and 50,000 taka for bronze, was also set up to inspire athletes. Chef de mission Rafia Akhter Dolly said: 'The players need the money. They are hoping to do well in their sport and make it their livelihood next time.'
Other countries offering rewards to athletes include Kuwait and the Philippines.
Closer to home, Singapore's medallists could receive more cheer yet.
Singapore National Olympic Council secretary-general Chris Chan yesterday said that there are plans to reward them, although it is not likely to be in cash.
But gold medal-winning keglers New Hui Fen, Darshini Krishna and Basil Low have already been assured of cash rewards after the Singapore Bowling Federation and Orchid Bowl pledged $4,000 for each gold won by the country's keglers - a total of $12,000 in all.
The likes of China, Japan and Indonesia do not have any plans to reward medal winners. Instead of cash rewards, the Chinese delegation has given each of its 81 athletes a Frasia mascot, worth $14, to remember the Games by.
A spokesman for the contingent said that the value of the AYG for China's athletes lies in the learning experience, and not in material rewards.
Indonesia's chef de mission Toho Cholik Mutohir agreed.
He said: 'In taking part, and being able to learn about the values of sport, they have received the greatest reward.'
In their camp is SingaporeSailing president Low Teo Ping. He said: 'Winning at youth level is only the beginning of their aspirations - it is part and parcel of their pathway towards higher excellence in sports.'
Several athletes also agree with them. For South Korean footballer Lee Hui Chan, 14, nothing gives him more joy than donning national colours.
Even though the centre-back will not receive a won for being part of the gold medal-winning team, he is not the least bit disappointed.
He said: 'I don't care about whether I get a reward or not. It's not my focus.
'My aim is to stay in the national Under-14 team. It's very hard to be playing at this level because there are so many good players in Korea.'
Similarly, Kuwaiti swimmer Jaafar Bouland does not train or compete with incentives in mind.
'I don't need the money to motivate me because I swim for the country,' said Jaafar, who wants to donate the US$400 he will receive for winning a bronze in the boys' 400m freestyle to the poor.
'I want to see our flag being flown in the sky. The money will be gone, but the medal will remain.'
Additional reporting by May Chen, Valerie Chia and Christopher Ong
