Serve NS for fxxx? Still dun want to emigrate? Still dun want to revolt?
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Paralympians: 'Reward them with the same amount as our Olympic winners, if not more.'
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I READ with interest about the rewards that our two Paralympics winners will be receiving under the Singapore National Paralympic Council's Athlete Achievement Awards scheme. A bronze medal winner like Laurentia Tan will receive $25,000 (Bronze once again, Sept 12) and a silver medal winner like Yip Pin Xiu will receive $50,000 (Surprise silver, now for gold, Sept 14).
Under the Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme, an able-bodied athlete who wins an individual Olympic silver medal will receive $500,000, while a bronze medallist will receive $250,000. In direct comparison, the Paralympics winner will receive only 10 percent of what an Olympic winner would get.
Similar to an Olympic athlete, Paralympic athletes have to overcome mental obstacles. In addition, they also need to overcome physical obstacles. This requires tremendous effort on the part of our Paralympic athletes. For that, it is more appropriate to reward them with the same amount as our Olympic winners, if not more.
There is already lesser media emphasis given to our Paralympic athletes, which does not seem justifiable. Perhaps it is time for us to review the award scheme applicable to our Paralympic athletes, as well as review the amount of media coverage the Paralympics gets. Hazel Chew (Ms)
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Paralympians: 'Reward them with the same amount as our Olympic winners, if not more.'
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I READ with interest about the rewards that our two Paralympics winners will be receiving under the Singapore National Paralympic Council's Athlete Achievement Awards scheme. A bronze medal winner like Laurentia Tan will receive $25,000 (Bronze once again, Sept 12) and a silver medal winner like Yip Pin Xiu will receive $50,000 (Surprise silver, now for gold, Sept 14).
Under the Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme, an able-bodied athlete who wins an individual Olympic silver medal will receive $500,000, while a bronze medallist will receive $250,000. In direct comparison, the Paralympics winner will receive only 10 percent of what an Olympic winner would get.
Similar to an Olympic athlete, Paralympic athletes have to overcome mental obstacles. In addition, they also need to overcome physical obstacles. This requires tremendous effort on the part of our Paralympic athletes. For that, it is more appropriate to reward them with the same amount as our Olympic winners, if not more.
There is already lesser media emphasis given to our Paralympic athletes, which does not seem justifiable. Perhaps it is time for us to review the award scheme applicable to our Paralympic athletes, as well as review the amount of media coverage the Paralympics gets. Hazel Chew (Ms)
