SPECIAL OLYMPICS (Reward scheme for disabled athletes)

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SPECIAL OLYMPICS:

(Reward scheme for disabled athletes): 8.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports if he will consider implementing a reward scheme, under the Singapore National Olympic Council, for our disabled athletes who make it to the Special Olympics and who also show improvements, beyond their personal best records.

The Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Dr Vivian Balakrishnan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the reward scheme for able-bodied athletes who win medals at major games is a scheme under the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), which is a non-government organisation. The SNOC has an arrangement with commercial sponsors for this reward scheme. The reward is only given to athletes who win a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal at the Southeast Asian, Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic Games. It is not given to athletes who show improvements beyond their personal best records.

The Singapore Disability Sports Council and Special Olympics Singapore are the two non-government organisations that represent athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities respectively. They can consider whether to work with partners to also put in place reward schemes to recognise the achievements of their athletes, if they so choose.

The hon. Member wouldbe glad to know that the Singapore Sports Council alsoprovides support to all athletes, including those with disabilities. For example, some athletes under the Singapore Disability Sports Council have received support from the SSC in terms of training assistance grants, medical insurance, and access to the SSC's sports science and sports medicine services.

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Some Paralympians this year also received training grants from theSSC which led up to the Olympic Games. And, as Members would be aware, just yesterday, our President hosted tea for the team who participated in the recent Paralympics in Athens.

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam: Could I ask the Minister what rolethe MCYS can take where the SNOC is concerned in rewarding disabled athletes when they win back medals? Is there any possibility of a reward scheme in that perspective?

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: Mr Speaker, Sir, in my answer earlier, I emphasised that the SNOC is a non-government organisation. It does not work under the direction of MCYS and this reward scheme is not done under the direction or behest of the Government. It is an arrangement which SNOC makes with commercial sponsors. In the same light, if the Singapore Disability Sports Council or the Special Olympics Singapore, through other non-government organisations, wishes to make similar arrangements with commercial organisations, they are entirely free to do so. But I want to emphasise that this is not something which is being done at the direction of the MCYS.