IPOH: Just like the remuneration offered by private companies for the athletes who bring back gold medals from the Olympic games, the Youth and Sports Ministry hopes the same will be done for the Paralympic athletics as well.

Deputy minister Adam Adli Halim said he welcomed private corporate companies to give similar perks to the Paralympians as well.

“From the government side since last year under the National Sports Council (NSC) incentive scheme (Shakam), a gold at the Olympics and Paralympics is worth RM1mil.

“However any additional perks announced are by private companies.

“So several perks including an apartment are being offered to those athletes who bring back the first gold this time from the Olympics,” he told reporters after officiating the Perak level “Kembara Jumpa Orang Muda” programme at the Mara Polytechnic College here on Sunday (July 21).

Adam said the ministry encouraged any private entities to provide similar perks and remuneration for the Paralympians.

“If the Paralympics athletes receive similar additional (rewards) for motivation, (it) will be good,” he said.

On the issue of doping, Adam Adli said Malaysian athletes were usually very disciplined.

However, he advised them to be careful with their food or supplements intake.

“Sometimes they may not be aware of the contents of the additional food they consume, and unintentionally it can lead to issues of doping.

“But for now so far everything is so far so good,” he added.

He said the awareness of doping was always emphasised by the ministry, and various measures and steps have been taken before the athletes left for Paris.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/21/paralympians-deserve-same-rewards-as-olympians-if-they-bring-home-gold-says-adam-adli