SINGAPORE CHESS PLAYERS (Prize money)

Mr Chay Wai Chuen asked the Acting Minister for Community Development whether he will consider giving prize money as encouragement for Singaporean chess players who can achieve international grandmaster status, similar to the prize schemes granted by the Singapore National Olympic Council for various international games.

The Acting Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Sir, it has always been the policy of the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) not to give prize money to any athlete in any sport. SSC, however, does work with other agencies to give financial rewards to athletes who perform well in international competitions. Examples of such organisations are the Singapore National Olympic Council and the national sports associations (NSAs). The Singapore Chess Federation can, on its own, implement a similar financial reward scheme, if it so wishes.