Payouts raised for repeat gold medallists, team sports at most major Games

Key Concepts

• Major Games Awards Program (MGAP): Singapore National Olympic Council’s (SNOC) scheme for rewarding athletes.
• Payout Increases: Significant increases in financial rewards for medalists, particularly in team sports and for multiple wins.
• Individual vs. Team Awards: Differentiation in reward structures between individual and team achievements.
• Games Covered: Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Olympic Games.
• Upstream Support: SNOC and Sport Singapore’s broader support system for athletes beyond financial rewards.

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Increased Award Payouts for Singaporean Athletes

The Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) has announced substantial changes to its Major Games Awards Program (MGAP), resulting in increased financial payouts for athletes winning medals at major games. These changes are effective from 2025 to 2028, encompassing the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Olympic Games. The updates aim to recognize achievements, motivate athletes, and reinforce a high-performance culture.

Financial Details & Changes by Game

Previously, $610,000 was awarded to 100 athletes who collectively won 52 gold medals. The core change involves equalizing rewards for repeat gold medal wins. Specifically:

• SEA Games: Rewards for a second gold medal will now match the payout for a first gold. Similarly, a third gold medal will receive the same reward as the first.
• Commonwealth & Asian Games: The reward for a second gold medal will equal the reward for the first.
• Olympic Games: The $1 million award for a gold medal remains unchanged.
• Team Sports: Rewards for team events will be standardized at 1.5 times the individual award amount. This represents a slight decrease for some Asian Games team medalists, but a significant increase for Olympic Games team gold medalists. Previously, a team clinching gold at the Olympic Games received $2 million; this has been increased to $3 million. At the Asian Games, the payout for a team gold medal is now $600,000.
• Specific Example: Swimmer Ching Hwee will receive $200,000 for each of her three individual SEA Games gold medals.
• Relay Events: Events like doubles and relays will be aligned with team sport awards, set at 1.5 times the individual awards.

Supporting Ecosystem & Recognition

The SNOC emphasized that financial rewards are only one component of athlete support. Sport Singapore provides “upstream” support, playing a complementary role in motivating and recognizing achievements. The SNOC also acknowledged the crucial contributions of coaches, high-performance staff, sports scientists, therapists, families, sponsors, and friends, stating, “Behind every performance… a lot of coaches, high performance staff, sport sciences.” An appreciation dinner was held at the college to recognize Team Singapore’s achievements.

Rationale & Program Scope

The updated award scheme is designed to provide consistent and motivating rewards across different games and achievement levels. The program covers the period from 2025 to 2028, encompassing the following major games:

• Southeast Asian Games
• Commonwealth Games
• Asian Games
• Olympic Games

Key Takeaways

The SNOC’s revised MGAP demonstrates a commitment to supporting Singaporean athletes through increased financial incentives, particularly for repeat successes and team achievements. The program recognizes the importance of a holistic support system extending beyond monetary rewards, acknowledging the contributions of various stakeholders in an athlete’s journey. The changes aim to foster a culture of high performance and motivate athletes to strive for excellence on the international stage.