A sports foundation in Taiwan yesterday announced performance-based bonuses for medal-winning Taiwanese athletes at the Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games, distributing a total of NT$50 million (US$1.57 million).
The Hong Dow Sports Development Foundation awarded incentives to athletes who achieved podium finishes, with gold medalists receiving up to NT$10 million each, while silver and bronze medalists were each awarded NT$2 million and NT$1 million respectively.
Among the recipients were Tokyo Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Kuo Hsing-chun (郭婞淳), badminton doubles champions Lee Yang (李洋) and Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟), who won gold at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and Paris Olympic boxing gold medalist Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷).
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Foundation chairman Lin Hong-dao (林鴻道) thanked the athletes and coaches for their dedication, adding that he had shared many memorable moments with athletes during his time as president of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee.
Lin also recalled discussions prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics with then-Sports Administration director-general Ho Chuo-fei (何卓飛), in which they advocated for athletes to travel by business class to reduce fatigue and improve recovery.
He said this led him to consider ways to better support athletes, resulting in his decision to offer a NT$10 million bonus for Olympic gold medalists.
He added that in recent years he had reflected on whether other medalists from the Tokyo and Paris Olympics should receive similar rewards to ensure fairness.
Lee, now the minister of sports, wrote on Facebook that Lin fulfilled his promise to award bonuses to Olympic medalists.
He also expressed his gratitude for the support he received throughout his athletic career, including from the government, corporate sponsors and support staff.
“As the minister of sports, I am more focused on systems and institutional development. I therefore suggested that the bonus that was awarded to me be redirected to those in greater need in society,” he wrote.
He proposed that the money be donated to a list of charitable organizations.
adding that the commitment could ultimately be fulfilled in a more meaningful way through social contributions.
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