Rio-bound Thai Paralympic contingent get financial supports from SAT
The Sports Authority of Thailand on Wednesday held a send-off party for Rio-bound Thai athletes with disabilities, who will leave on August 30 for the 15th Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro from September 7 to 18.
The SAT's Governor Sakol Wannapong presided over the party, which took place on the first floor of the SAT Building on Ramkhamhaeng Road, with Chukiat Singsung, chairman of the Association of the Physically Handicapped of Thailand, being guest of honour.
In the party, Sakol presented 34 Thai athletes with disabilities and 17 coaches with a supporting Bt10,000 cash apiece, while nine sporting disciplines the Thai athletes will take part in the Rio Paralympic Games consisting wheelchair racing, table tennis, shooting, archery, swimming, athletics, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair fencing and powerlifting were also given away with Bt10,000 each.
“The SAT are ready to support the Thai athletes with disabilities who will take part in the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The “Thai House” has already been well-prepared in Rio to help take care of all Thai athletes. In terms of the Paralympic prospects, we don’t want them to win as many gold medals, but we just need them to do their best. As far as I’m concerned, all Thai athletes with disabilities are fit physically and mentally. However, I just keep my fingers crossed that our athletes will return with not less than four gold medals they had won in London four years ago,” said Sakol.
According to the National Sports Development Fund, those returning from the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will receive Bt6m cash incentives for each gold medal won, while Bt4m and Bt2.5m will be given to each silver and bronze medal won in Rio.
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event involving athletes with a range of disabilities, including impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency (e.g. amputation or dysmelia), leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and intellectual impairment.
At the London Paralympic Games four years ago, the 31 Thai athletes with disabilities returned with eight medals including four gold and two silver.
