KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

We have million dollar reward for sports olympics games winners, even YOG winners get tens of thousands. However, the international physics/biology/chemisty/maths/etc olympiad winners do not have such a reward system.

The local academic olympiad winners are also the tops in their own field. I feel it is really unfair that only sports olympics winners are recognised and motivated with monetary awards. Why doesn't MOE come up with a reward scheme for the academic olympiad winners?

I think the sports people are more prone to injuries, and less people are willing to give up a good education/future to pursue sports, hence there is a reward system to compensate/motivate the sportsmen/sportswomen.

The rewards for academic people are in the form of better future, since they are likely to do well in schools, secure good jobs after they graduate, and earn a lot of $$$.

Nevertheless, I think the monetary reward for sports people is superabundant. Sports people should be motivated by their passion, not by $$$.

Actually it is just the flavour of the day. Singapore is actively promoting professional sportsman to help the little red dot gain more prominence in the world map in this area. In doing so, it has to give more carrot in this area to attract. Also sportsman is fairly clearcut, they will end up as a professional sportsman in that field they are outstanding in.

As for the Math or Science Olympiad, we are already well known in the world for being tops in these areas, no need to give more incentives. Also for Math and Science, their career is quite wide...so they have to determine which area they want to attract them into in order to derive the excessive rewards. GWIM?

justbehappy wrote:We have million dollar reward for sports olympics games winners, even YOG winners get tens of thousands. However, the international physics/biology/chemisty/maths/etc olympiad winners do not have such a reward system.

The local academic olympiad winners are also the tops in their own field. I feel it is really unfair that only sports olympics winners are recognised and motivated with monetary awards. Why doesn't MOE come up with a reward scheme for the academic olympiad winners?

I think the media popularity explains the difference. Sport events attract many more readers/viewers than academic events. Therefore, advertisers have to put their bucks accordingly.

It is also because sport career is risky than academic one due to early retirement age and physical injury.

Sports Olympics will bring in country unity and pride because they are widely followed and watched. Also, as the above poster has correctly pointed out, sportsman retire early and has many risk. So far, even with the reward, no local grown singaporean has been able won to clinch a medal in the Olympic games. this is totally different with academic olympics. However, for academic, there is the prestigious Nobel prize. I think NUSH was created partially in the hope to produce 1 nobel prize winner for the country. so, it is not unfair.