Ronald Susilo is Singapore's national flag-bearer at Athens Olympics By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia SINGAPORE : Singapore's Olympic-bound athletes have just been given a huge cash incentive to do well in Athens. The reward scheme for individual athletes has been revived, and the cash reward for teams who bring home medals has also been raised. Details were announced on Tuesday as the team was presented with the national flag. Shuttler Ronald Susilo will be Singapore's national flag-bearer at the Olympics. He will lead Team Singapore at the opening ceremony in Athens in just about three weeks' time. After reciting the pledge and singing the national anthem, it was one for the album for the Athens-bound athletes. Singapore is sending its biggest contingent since the 1992 Barcelona Games. Sixteen athletes will take part in sports like badminton, table-tennis, swimming, athletics, sailing and shooting. And there was good news for them ahead of their departure on August 8. Rear Admiral Teo Chee Hean, President of Singapore National Olympic Council, said: "I am happy to announce today that Singapore Pools has come forward to sponsor the MAP Individual Awards for the Olympic Games.This sponsorship is in addition to Singapore Pools already existing MAP sponsorship for Olympic team medalists." The new sponsorship means any athlete who wins an individual gold medal will get $1 million. The previous sponsorship for individual awards expired after the 2000 Sydney Games. Ronald Susilo said: "Money is not the main thing. The incentive is there to give us a morale booster, to give us further encouragement to do well in Athens." Besides the Olympic Games, the multi-million dollar awards programme also covers other major events like the SEA, Commonwealth and Asian Games. The SNOC also announced changes to the awards programme for these events. Among the changes, the team sport awards are now worth $30,000. - CNA
