Whether you are an athlete or simply an admirer, the Singapore Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the world. The competition is rigorous and requires competitors to demonstrate their skills and talents in a wide range of sports. There are two different categories, and both are worth a huge sum of money.
SEA Games
Earlier this week, Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) awarded the winners of the 29th SEA Games Multi-Million Dollar Awards Programme. A total of 68 athletes received cash rewards based on their performances. This includes five gold, eight silver, and seven bronze medals. The athletes also received personalized congratulation cards.
SNOC President Tan Chuan-Jin, who is also the Speaker of Parliament and live sgp, delivered the awards presentation. He spoke on the athletes’ impact on the community. He reminded athletes to do their best and stay on track with their performance. He also stressed that they must comply with the selection criteria and the SEA Games code of conduct.
The SNOC also awarded four gold medals, five silver, and four bronze to Singapore’s athletes. Tan Chuan-Jin presented personalised congratulation cards to the medallists. During the presentation, he also reminded athletes to perform to the best of their abilities.
The Singapore contingent of 424 athletes represented the country in 33 sports during the 31st SEA Games. The athletes achieved 41 personal best performances and set 16 national records.
Olympic Games
Despite being one of the lesser-known Olympic Games, Singapore has been a winner when it comes to medals. In fact, it has been the first nation to pay out a $1 million Singapore dollar prize for an individual gold medal.
During the 2016 Olympics, swimmer Joseph Schooling became the first Singaporean to win an Olympic gold medal in his event. This was a huge step for the sport. During the competition, Schooling beat Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly. He also set a new Games record in the 200m butterfly finals.
Singapore also sent 23 athletes to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. They brought home four golds and five silvers. However, Schooling was not present at the award ceremony. His father, who was present, said the money would be used to pay off loans for Schooling’s education.
Singapore also received 14 bronze medals at the Asian Games. The country was also a medal winner at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, earning SGD365,000 for the gold medalists and SGD365,000 for the bronze medalists.
Asian Games
During Singapore’s record-breaking performance at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, more than $1 million was handed out to athletes. This was part of the Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme (MAP), a cash incentive scheme by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). The programme has rewarded the winners of four major multi-sport events: the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the SEA Games.
Singapore’s medal tally was a record 188 medals, breaking the previous record set at the 2007 Korat Games. The team also set a number of new national records during the Games, with 15 athletes setting new records in seven sports.
Singapore’s athletes took home more gold medals than any other nation, winning 15 gold medals. Quah Jing Wen’s six golds in swimming helped him to become the first Singaporean to win a swimming gold medal at the SEA Games. He also set a new Games record in the 200m butterfly finals.
The team also achieved a new record for the number of personal best performances. The 424 athletes took home 46 silver medals and 71 bronze medals.
Commonwealth Games
Earlier this year, Singapore announced an incentive program for athletes who won medals at the Commonwealth Games and Southeast Asian Games. The reward money is part of a wider MAP programme, which rewards medal winners of four major multi-sport events.
The MAP programme is sponsored by Singapore Pools, Tote Board Group, and Singapore Turf Club. The programme awarded 68 athletes with up to $860,000 for winning medals at the SEA Games and Commonwealth Games. The reward money is split between Team Singapore and the athletes.
The MAP awards are used for training and development purposes. The Singapore government also sent 53 medallists special thank-you notes.
Feng Tianwei, Singapore’s table tennis star, won three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, and is the first athlete from the country to win this award. He also won the David Dixon Award, named after the former honorary secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation. Feng was awarded the prize for fair play and character.