SINGAPORE - A total of $670,000 was given out to Singapore's gold medallists from the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games under the Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme (MAP) at Orchard Hotel on Thursday night (Oct 5).
The sizeable sum reflected Team Singapore's fine performance in August's Games, which saw the Republic amass a record away haul of 188 medals (57 gold, 58 silver and 73 bronze), bettering by some way the previous best (43-43-41) secured at the 2007 Korat Games.
Swimmers Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen were joint top earners, pocketing $31,250 for the three individual golds and three team golds each won in the Malaysian capital. Both did not attend the award presentation as they are based in the United States where they train and study.
Other top earners include Quah's two sisters Ting Wen and Jing Wen, also swimmers, ($26,250 each) and paddler Feng Tianwei ($20,500).
The MAP is a cash incentive scheme by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and sponsored by the Tote Board group.
Athletes stand to get $10,000 for each individual gold, $15,000 for each team event gold and $30,000 for each team sport gold, with payouts for individual golds capped at three - and $5,000 for both second and third golds.
Athletes are required to plough back 20 per cent of their earnings to their respective national sport associations for training and development.
The Tote Board group comprises Tote Board, Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club.
SNOC president Tan Chuan-Jin, who is also Speaker of Parliament and the event's guest of honour, said: "Behind every record, medal, score and athlete, there is a tribe of family, friends and strangers who support and cheer our athletes and officials on.
" Many thanks to all of you... (and also to ) the team managers, coaches, training partners, administrators and officials - your work has contributed to the success of the team."
Mr Tan presented personalised congratulatory cards to the medallists, and was joined on stage during the award presentation by Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Singapore's chef de mission Milan Kwee.
More than $1 million was given out after Singapore's record performance on home soil at the 2015 SEA Games when the hosts won 84 golds.
