Bangkok: The Sports Development Fund is set to distribute prize money to Thai athletes following their performance at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Thai national athletes emerged with the highest number of gold medals, leading to a substantial payout from the National Sports Development Fund.
According to Thai News Agency, the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, hosted by Thailand, concluded with the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) preparing to award prize money to the athletes. The fund will adhere to the "Criteria, Methods, and Conditions for Awarding Prize Money to Athletes, Sports Personnel, and Sports Associations of Thailand, 2019." Despite earlier reports suggesting a potential increase, the prize amounts will remain: 300,000 baht for a gold medal, 150,000 baht for a silver, and 75,000 baht for a bronze.
The prize distribution will also include coaches and sports associations. Individual or team coaches (up to six members) will receive 20% of the prize money. For teams with seven or more athletes, 10% of the athlete's prize money will be allocated. Sports associations will receive 30% of the athlete's prize money, capped at 6 million baht.
Thai athletes secured 233 gold medals, 154 silver medals, and 112 bronze medals, totaling 499 medals at the SEA Games. The prize money is estimated to be around 482 million baht, with sports such as boxing, jiu-jitsu, athletics, rowing, Muay Thai, aquatic sports, cycling, taekwondo, and weightlifting receiving significant portions.
The NSDF is in the process of finalizing the figures for approval by the National Olympic Committee of Thailand. A report will be submitted to the government to determine an appropriate date and time for an award ceremony to honor the achievements of the Thai SEA Games athletes.