At the 2024 Paris Olympics, 17-year-old Singaporean Max Maeder exemplified remarkable talent in kitefoil racing, securing a bronze medal in the men’s event. Maeder showcased his skill by securing a second-place position in the final races’ qualifications, needing only a pair of victories to clinch the gold. Despite finishing the finals in second and third place, his performance was commendable, landing him Singapore’s third bronze medal of the games.
For his outstanding achievement, Maeder is to be rewarded with S$250,000. However, post-contributions to the Singapore Sailing Federation, which amount to S$50,000 or 20% of his winnings, he will retain S$200,000.
The earnings for Olympic medals are notably generous, with gold and silver medalists receiving S$1 million and S$500,000, respectively. These rewards are part of the Major Games Award Programme (MAP) by the Singapore National Olympic Council, intended as an incentive for athletes representing Singapore at major international competitions, including the SEA, Commonwealth, Asian, and Olympic Games.
The MAP rewards, funded by the Tote Board Group, vary across the different types of games and are also split between individual and team events. Despite being a considerable honor, these awards are taxable, and all recipients must allocate a predetermined percentage of their winnings to their National Sports Association, aiding in the funding of future training and development efforts. This contribution rate is set at 20% for the SEA, Asian, and Olympic Games, and at 50% for the Commonwealth Games.
