Athletes were awarded more than Bt165 million in bonuses for winning medals in four international tournaments, including the Asian Games, during a party hosted by the government at the Santi Maitree Building yesterday.
Presided over by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the ceremony saw footballers from the Women's Asian Cup in Vietnam plus medal-winners at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, and the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games in Incheon, honoured and presented with a total of Bt165,521,700.
The women's football team, coaching staff and the Football Association were awarded a total of Bt3.75 million for finishing fifth in the Asian Cup and earning their first-ever berth at the 2015 World Cup, to be held in Canada. The Youth Olympics team produced three gold medals, two silvers and three bronzes which earned them Bt13.366,700 million.
A total Bt92.920 million was granted to the Asian Games medallists, coaching staff and sports associations. Thailand won 12 golds, seven silvers and 28 bronzes at the 17th Asiad, where the Kingdom finished sixth overall in the medals table.
The Asian Para Games athletes won 21 golds, 39 silvers and 47 bronzes and were given a total of Bt55.485 million in bonuses.