More incentives await Paris Olympics gold medallists: Yeoh

Incentives for national athletes who win gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics are expected to increase as more parties come forward to offer rewards, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

She said these contributions provide an opportunity for private companies to encourage and support national athletes who reach the podium at the quadrennial games.

“For the government, it remains at RM1 million (for gold medal winners), but now private companies are contacting the Fast Track Road To Gold (RTG) committee to offer rewards to athletes who bring home gold medals. However, the committee will announce these rewards later,” she said.

Yeoh was speaking to the media after launching the Basic Training Skills Programme: Special Swimming (Klas Swimming) for the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency today, which was also attended by Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong and Malacca Youth, Sports and NGO Committee chairperson VP Shanmugam.

The government offers a reward of RM1 million for athletes who win gold medals at an Olympics under the Sports Victory Prize Scheme. Silver and bronze medal winners will be rewarded RM300,000 and RM100,000 respectively.

Previously, the media had reported that national athletes who bring home medals from the Paris Olympics would receive a brand new foreign car as a reward.

The Paris Olympics is scheduled to take place from July 26 to Aug 11.

Swimming lessons for the less fortunate

Commenting on today’s event, the minister announced an additional allocation of RM15,240 for the development of the swimming programme, covering three categories - children from B40 families, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

“This allocation will be channelled through the Malaysia Swimmers and Swimming Coaches Association and is hoped to benefit 40 more participants selected by Khoo, whether children or the elderly. This is to provide opportunities for those less fortunate to have access to training classes or swimming pools for their children,” she said.

She added that she wants swimming to be not just a sport but a life-saving skill, given the annual cases of drowning reported, especially during the flood season.

For this purpose, Yeoh said the government has allocated RM3.6 million in Budget 2024 to expand the implementation of Klas Swimming for 2024.

“We have completed Phase 1 for 2024 (June) with 1,572 participants, while Phase 2, starting on July 27, will be held at 39 locations nationwide.

“In Malacca, there are two locations for the second phase, namely in Melaka Tengah and Alor Gajah for the B40 children’s category. Of course, I hope for cooperation and contributions from the Malacca chief minister and MPs to make this programme a success,” she said.

- Bernama

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