AS we reflect on the incredible feats of the many medal winners at the Beijing Olympic Games, one thing shines through — the power of the human spirit shown not only by the champions but also all the participants.
This is particularly true of two ‘handicapped’ long-distance swimmers, Maarten van der Weijden from Holland and Natalie Du Toit from South Africa in the 10km marathon swim.
The former was reportedly suffering from leukaemia and the latter is an amputee — minus the lower part of her left leg.
Van der Weijden beat other able-bodied swimmers to win the gold while Du Toit managed to complete the 10km swim although she wasn’t a medallist.
The fighting spirit and steely determination shown by these two Olympians have certainly warmed the hearts of millions the world over. Indeed, the duo are the true heroines of the Olympic Games and role models for everyone, especially the young.
The scenario was no less different in the Paralympics. Put aside the scale of the two Games. Whether it’s the Olympics or Paralympics, the efforts put in by the athletes to succeed are the same. The Paralympians are not any less committed than the Olympians — they train just as hard but unfortunately, when they win, they get only a fraction of the cash rewards given to Olympic medallists.
For example, in Singapore, the total prize money that Paralympians received for four medals in Beijing was still less than that for an individual bronze medal at the Olympics. And the reward amounts, according to its government, differ for three reasons.
First, the level of competition at the Olympics is higher. Paralympians can join the Olympics but Olympians can’t join the Paralympics.
Secondly, the base of competition in the Olympics is a lot broader while that for the Paralympics is smaller and it’s fragmentised since the disabilities are classified differently — so there is a different scale of competition.
Finally, the cash awards given to the Olympians and Paralympians are not government-funded, coming, as they are, from the private sector.
In Malaysia, there is obvious disparity in the reward system for the Olympics and the Paralympics.
Datuk Lee Chong Wei won the silver medal in the men’s badminton singles after losing the final to China’s Lin Dan. Despite failing to get the gold, Chong Wei was entitled to RM300,000 from the government for winning the silver medal.
The government is promising RM1 million as incentive to any athlete who returns with an Olympic gold medal, RM300,000 for silver and RM100,000 for bronze.
Power-lifter Siow Lee Chan was the sole medal winner in 13th Paralympic, also in Beijing, after getting a bronze in the women’s under 56kg category with a lift of 95kg, also a new national and SEA Games record.
Her win ended the country’s 16-year medal drought in the Games and also entitled her to a RM100,000 reward under the government’s sports excellence incentive scheme.
The government will reward Paralympians RM300,000 for a gold medal, RM200,000 for a silver medal and RM100,000 for bronze medal. If any of the country’s Paralympians won a gold, he or she would receive the same amount as Lee for his silver medal.
Also, under the National Sports Council’s incentive scheme, individual able-bodied gold medallists receive RM80,000 in the Asia Games and RM80,000 in the Commonwealth Games while the para-athletes get RM40,000 for gold in the Commonwealth Games.
There is obviously some disparity in cash rewards for gold and silver medal between the two categories of athletes. No specific reason has ever given for this.
Asked for his comments, Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Dato Sri William Mawan said: “I will seek to correct if there is any disparity.”
“The federal government should review the incentive scheme and see what has to be done to give Paralympians equal cash reward. I’m sure we do not value our paralympians any less, so why the disparity in the reward system?” he asked.
Mawan said at the state level, if the handicapped were doing well, the government would also reward them.
“There may be some disparities and I will seek to correct them, if any. I want them synchronised at the state level.
“We’re not talking about less and more but the sort of achievements that give us the pride and name in both the national and international arenas — at least for Sarawak.”
Mawan said the state government would not differentiate between the athletes in terms of rewards. So far, he hasn’t been able to see a glaring disparity in the state’s reward system.
“If there is any, I can promise we will look into it. Not because the athletes are physically strong, they get something more — no such thing,” he said.
On the present national reward system for the Paralympians and Olympians, he agreed the disabled should not be discriminated against.
“Okay, you may say they are disabled against disabled and not disabled against able-bodied. But the thing is the name of the nation is being uplifted. Paralympians also bring pride to the nation and should be treated equally. They deserve equal rights … that’s for me. I will start at the state level to close the disparity gap.”
Mawan said Paralympians had to overcome a lot more obstacles just to be able to compete, so they should be accorded equal respect and recognition.
He noted Paralympians or disabled athletes, like any other sportspersons, had to train hard.
On the day of the competition, he pointed out, they also had to exhibit mental strength to achieve their goals and thus, in his opinion, Paralympians deserved the same recognition and laurels accorded Malaysian Olympians.
“In fact, at the state level, we want to help more, considering the disabled athletes have not been given as much exposure as the able-bodied athletes. We will be looking into it,” he assured.
Sarawak has been rewarding its athletes RM1,000 for gold, RM700 for silver and RM500 for bronze in Sukma. The state has dominated the National Paralympiads, winning the overall title for eight years running, including in May this year.
Two of the athletes, Mohd Zamry Sapiee, 32, and Catherine Timbang Siang, 42, were adjudged the best sportsman and woman in the last championship.
Just as it gives cash awards to the able-bodied athletes, the state government also gives the same to the disabled athletes through the Welfare Department. However, the quantum is not known.
The State Sportsman and Woman Award for para-athletes was introduced last year and the recipients were Mohd Zamry (swimming) and Lau King Kiew (athletics).
The consensus is that rewards for the athletes — able-bodied or disabled — should be fair and equal. After all, sports excellence is a goal set by the government. So why is that when excellence is achieved, the government takes a step back to reward the Paralympians less.
A normal sportsperson has to put in a lot of hard work if he wants to succeed but for the handicapped to excel, much more is required.
Olympics or Paralympics, it’s equally tough to win a medal. For Paralympians, their physical conditions are more unpredictable and their first Paralympics could also be their last.
It’s a contentious issue but many believe disabled athletes deserve much more recognition and support from the nation as a whole.
The medals won by Malaysia this year in the Paralympics represent a crucial step forward in raising public awareness on disability sports and in promoting them.
They are also a good opportunity to remind Malaysians that disable doesn’t mean unable and that they should not belittle the Paralympians who may have skills far exceeding a normal athlete’s.
Borneo Post
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