ON 14 Jan last year, The New Paper reported on the lack of a proper scheme to reward Singapore athletes who won medals on the world stage, be they abled or disabled.

The Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) announced the Athlete Achievement Awards (AAA) on 15 Jan - a year later.

The Asean Para Games which concluded yesterday in Korat, Thailand is the first time the AAA will be put into practice.

Now, disabled athletes stand to be rewarded as much as $100,000, depending on the levels of international competition.

Paralympic Games:

Individual Events: $100,000 (gold medal), $50,000 (silver), $25,000 (bronze).

Team Events: $150,000 (gold), $75,000 (silver), $37,500 (bronze).

Team Sports: $200,000 (gold), $100,000 (silver), $50,000 (bronze)

Asian Para Games (Previously FESPIC Games):

Individual Events: $17,500 (gold), $12,500 (silver), $6,250 (bronze).

Team Events:$25,000 (gold), $20,000 (silver), $10,000 (bronze).

Team Sports: $35,000 (gold), $25,000 (silver), $12,500 (bronze).

Commonwealth Games:

Individual Events: $10,000 (gold), $5,000 (silver), $2,500 (Bronze).

Team Events: $15,000 (gold), $7,500 (silver), $3,750 (bronze).

Team Sports: $20,000 (gold), $10,000 (silver), $5,000 (bronze).

Asean Para Games:

Individual Events: $1,000 (gold)

Team Events: $1,500 (gold)

Team Sports:$3,000 (gold)

A team event refers to a sport like tennis, which can have an individual as well as a team category in doubles play.

An example of a team sport would be basketball or football, which is played only as a team game.

However, the events that will be considered for the awards must have participation from at least three countries and three athletes.

Otherwise, the athlete must break the Games record before the medal can be considered for the AAA.

No additional awards may be given for multiple medals as well.

For team sports or events, the prize money will be divided equally among the team members.

Former national swimmer and current swimming coach Ang Peng Siong said on the new scheme: 'We hope that with such programmes more from the disabled community can take part in sports.

'Sports is a great way of enriching their lives, not in just the monetary sense.

'For the abled and disabled, in the water, they both can swim like fish too.'

RECOGNITION

He said it was important that the disabled athletes get the recognition, as Singapore have world beaters in swimmer Theresa Goh, who holds the current world record in the 50m breaststroke.

Heading to the Beijing Paralympics, she is set to get her first gold medal at the world stage.

With medals galore, she will be finally see reward and stand to win $100,000 for her efforts.

However, with the clause specifying 'no additional awards for multiple medals', we still ask if it is not better to reward them for every medal they toil and sweat for.

For now though, I'm sure Goh would be happier as she will be receiving more than just congratulatory SMSes.