30 January 2010

Prize money

Lots of cash rewards are on offer to Nepali athletes that bring home a medal from the 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The amounts range from a few thousand to several lakhs Rupees depending on the sport and the color of the medal.

Would Nepal win more gold medals at the South Asian Games if athletes were offered a million dollars for each gold medal? Similarly, if not a single rupee was on the table to the sportsmen, would they simply give-up? The answer to both questions is no. The lure of prize money does not change an athletes performance - strong coaching, good facilities, regular competitions and peace of mind do.