VietNamNet Bridge - The bonus for medalists in the upcoming SEA Games in Myanmar will be much less, compared to the previous games, because of economic difficulties.

According to the Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training – Mr. Vuong Bich Thang, each gold medal at the 27th SEA Games will get immediate cash bonus of VND6 million ($300). The bonuses for a silver and a bronze medal is respectively VND4 million ($200) and VND2 million ($100).

Thang said the award of SEA Games this year will be reduced because of budget and economic difficulties.

At the previous SEA Games in 2011, each individual gold medal received on-the-spot cash bonus of VND7 million (nearly $400) and VND9 million (nearly $500) for a team goal medal.

In 2011, up to half of the bonus came from donors and the remaining half was covered by the General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

This year, the fund from this agency is higher since donors are not keen on this event because of economic crisis.

Some donors have committed to provide their products as a bonus for athletes. For example, recently digital broadcaster VTC promised to present each gold medalist with an HD TV receiver and 12 months for free use of VTC TV services. A garment enterprise pledged to provide each athlete a suit from a famous French brand.

Head of the Vietnam sports delegation to 27th SEA Games, Mr. Lam Quang Thanh, revealed that so far eight companies have agreed to sponsor the delegation but most of them will provide the fund with products.

Nguyen Dung