Forum: Time to pay athletes, not just their managers, better

The conclusion of the 33rd SEA Games on Dec 20 has highlighted a significant gap in how Singapore values its national athletes compared with the administrative structures managing them.

While recent enhancements to the spexScholarship – including the introduction of Central Provident Fund contributions in April – are positive steps, the financial recognition for performance remains lagging.

Singapore’s 150 silver and bronze medallists from the recent SEA Games received zero cash incentives. In contrast, several ASEAN neighbours, including the Philippines and Thailand, have established tiered systems that provide tangible monetary recognition for every podium finish.

Furthermore, the Republic needs to review the resource allocation between athletes and their administrators. High-level executive management personnel in its sporting bodies are rightly compensated with market-competitive annual salaries, often exceeding $250,000.

However, many national athletes live on stipends that fall below the median starting salary of a fresh graduate.

In other professional sectors where “talent” is the primary driver – such as healthcare or academia – it is standard for the “front-line” mission-critical talent to have pay parity with, or even exceed, the compensation of administrators.

But in Singapore’s sports sector, the individual delivering the global result is often the lowest-paid person in the room.

As the country looks towards hosting the 2029 SEA Games, it should consider a more equitable model. Singapore must ensure that the financial security of its athletes is benchmarked with the same professional lens it applies to their managers.

Only by professionalising the athlete as a career can it inspire the next generation to commit fully to the sporting stage.

Lim Jun Sheng