Serious stakes
Rewards for Asian Games medalists range from cars to cash
Posted: Tuesday November 24, 1998 02:49 PM
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Worth its weight in gold: Lu Bin's gold medal-winning performance in 1994 would be worth money this time around J.D. Cuban/Allsport |
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- When they go for the gold, Asia's
athletes won't just be chasing medals.
The regional economic crisis notwithstanding, many of the 42
countries sending more than 6,000 athletes to the Asian Games next
month in Bangkok will be paying lucrative awards to those who
strike gold, silver and bronze.
After all, national pride is at stake in the region's largest
Olympic-style competition. Some countries are even raising the
value of the awards above what they paid at the last Asian Games
four years ago in Hiroshima, Japan, when the region was booming.
"It's the big event for every participating Asian country, even
though we're battered by economic crisis," said Chairat Kanuan,
vice president of Thailand's Olympic Committee. "No one can afford
to lose face in the games."
Chairat said that setting awards for winners is an important
stimulant for Asian athletes - who don't have a future lined with
huge pro football or basketball contracts - to do their very best.
The awards rank from several hundred to tens of thousands of
US. dollars. Extra benefits are promised for record-breaking
performances.
The biggest prizes appear to be offered by rich countries likely
to win the fewest medals. Singapore, for example, is offering
250,000 Singapore dollars (US$154,000) to any of its athletes
winning gold.
A silver will bring 125,000 Singapore dollars (US$77,000) and
bronze 62,500 Singapore dollars (US$38,500).
Hong Kong is offering as much as 500,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$64,120), while Malaysia ill pay individual gold medal winners
80,000 ringgit (US$21,052). The Malaysians are hopeful of winning
the 100 meters.
South Korea hopes its athletes will collect 65 gold medals to
come in second after powerhouse China. With a rocky economy and
more medals to pay for, the Koreans will be giving modest gold
medal bonuses of 3 million won (US$2,300). Silver and bronze
fetch nothing.
China aims to capture more than 100 golds and will offer 4,000
yuan (US$480) for each one. In 1994, China won 137 - or 41
percent - of the 337 gold medals at stake.
Yuan Weimin, a sports vice minister, said recently that China
plans to use the Asian Games to lay a foundation for the 2000
Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Kuwait, home of the Olympic Council of Asia, which is overseeing
Bangkok's organization of the games, is promising every gold
medalist a new car. Kuwait hopes to win medals in fencing, judo,
taekwondo, karate, soccer, shooting and athletics.
As the host, Thailand says it cannot let the worst recession in
decades affect the spirit of athletes who have been trained for
years for this competition.
The government is doubling financial incentives from what was on
offer four years ago, offering a gold medalist 1 million baht (US$27,500). A silver will fetch 300,000 baht (US$8,300) and a bronze
200,000 baht (US$5,500).
Jurin Laksanavisith, deputy chairman of the Bangkok Asian Games
Organizing Committee, said the government has allocated 34 million
baht (nearly US$1 million) for the awards. Eleven golds are hoped
for.
Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has said that additional
contributions can come from the national lottery office if needed.
"I'm not concerned anymore about the preparations for the
games, but the performance of the athletes," Chuan said recently.
"We need to give them moral support."
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