Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, President of the Thailand Olympic Committee, awarded cash prizes to all athletes who participated in the “Paris 2024 Games.”
The gold medal heroes celebrated their success with a victory parade to the Government House, welcomed by a large crowd of supporters.
Gen. Prawit, who chaired the welcome reception at the Thailand Olympic Committee headquarters, congratulated the Thai national team for their participation in the “2024 Olympic Games.”
The event was attended by six Olympic medalists, including two-time Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Panipak Wongpattanakit, Olympic badminton silver medalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn, and bronze medal-winning boxer Janjaem Suwannapheng. Also present were weightlifting silver medalists Thirapong Silachai and Weeraphon Wichuma, along with bronze medalist Surodchana Kambao. All 51 Thai athletes who competed in the Paris Games participated in the event.
Gen. Prawit awarded cash prizes to all athletes, regardless of whether they won a medal, as a token of appreciation and encouragement. He expressed gratitude to the athletes for bringing joy to the Thai people and inspiring the youth. He also encouraged them to continue training for the next Olympic Games in four years to win even more medals.
Additionally, the Thailand Olympic Committee will provide monthly stipends to the athletes for 20 years: 12,000 baht per month for gold medalists, 10,000 baht per month for silver medalists, and 8,000 baht per month for bronze medalists.
After the ceremony, the athletes boarded an open-top double-decker bus for a victory parade, leaving the Thailand Olympic Committee headquarters. The parade traveled along Phitsanulok Road, accompanied by drums and loudspeakers with large crowds cheering on both sides of the street.
In the afternoon, Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit will preside over a ceremony at Government House, to award additional cash prizes from the National Sports Development Fund to the six athletes.
They can choose between two payment options: the first option provides a lump sum of 12 million baht for a gold medal, 7.2 million baht for a silver medal, and 4.8 million baht for a bronze medal, with 50% paid upfront and the remaining 50% distributed monthly over four years.
The second option offers a lump sum payment of 10 million baht for a gold medal, 6 million baht for a silver medal, and 4 million baht for a bronze medal.
Non-medal-winning athletes will receive 100,000 baht, with all payments made via real-time bank transfer. (TNA)
