According to Thai media, on December 24, the Thai National Olympic Committee proposed that the government consider adjusting the subsidy and bonus levels for athletes participating in the 33rd SEA Games.
This move comes from the fact that many athletes reflect that the current regime is no longer suitable for the cost of living level, which has increased sharply in recent years.
Associate Professor Pimon Srivikorn - Chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand said that the current subsidy level has remained almost unchanged for about 15 years. According to regulations, each athlete is allowed to receive 900 baht/day, but 300 baht of which must be used for accommodation and related expenses, making the actual amount of money received quite limited.
In the context of escalating prices, the Thai Olympic Committee proposed raising the subsidy level to 1,200 baht/day to ensure basic living conditions for athletes on national duty.
In addition to subsidies, the issue of medal bonuses at the 33rd SEA Games was also discussed. Mr. Pimon proposed to increase the gold medal prize from 300,000 baht to 500,000 baht, the silver medal from 150,000 baht to 300,000 baht and the bronze medal from 75,000 baht to 150,000 baht.
According to the leader of the Thai Olympic Committee, this is a necessary recognition for the long-term training process and the contributions of athletes to the country's sports.
This proposal attracted further attention after controversies related to the treatment regime at the 33rd SEA Games. Previously, Kissada men's volleyball star Yamine Nilsawai announced his retirement from the national team because he was not satisfied with the adjusted gold medal prize level down from the initial announcement.
Thai media said that the plan to reward each gold medalist with 500,000 baht has not been implemented due to budget constraints.
Not only volleyball, some other sports also face financial difficulties. In the weightlifting team, athletes are said to have not received training allowances for many months before the SEA Games, directly affecting their psychology and preparation process.
