Athletes and sports coaches 'shocked' by proposal to increase salary and bonus 2-10 times

As reported by Tuoi Tre Online , on the morning of August 7, leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism chaired a conference to collect expert opinions on the draft decree replacing Decree 152 of 2018 of the Government "Regulating policies and regimes for sports team members participating in concentrated training and competitions".

According to the draft revised Decree 152, athletes and coaches will have their wages doubled and their food allowance increased. As for medal bonuses, depending on the event, athletes will be increased from 2 to 10 times.

Specifically, the current average salary of national team athletes is 7 million VND/person/month, which will be increased to 14 million VND/person/month. The athlete's food allowance will be increased to 405,000 VND/person/day.

The Olympic gold medal prize will increase from 350 million VND to 3.5 billion VND. The Asiad gold medal prize will increase from 140 million VND to 700 million VND. The SEA Games gold medal prize will increase from 45 million VND to 60 million VND...

Draft Decree 152 is considered an unprecedented breakthrough in the field of sports. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hopes that if the Decree is approved by the Government by the end of 2025, it will help Vietnamese sports accelerate.

Sports world rejoices

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online right after hearing the news, long jumper Bui Thi Thu Thao (2018 Asiad champion and the only Vietnamese track and field athlete to win an Asiad gold medal) said:

"I was so surprised and happy to hear that the Ministry is amending Decree 152, which is expected to increase the food allowance, salary, and medal bonus for athletes. The life of sports athletes has been very difficult for a long time, the salary is not enough to live on and everyone is worried when practicing.

I am an athlete who won the Asian Games gold medal but my salary is only 7 million VND per month, like an athlete who has not achieved anything when joining the national team. Such a low and equal salary does not motivate athletes to contribute. Too low a salary also makes athletes worried and not focused on training. If the regime is raised, surely athletes and coaches will be happy and make more efforts to contribute to the country's sports."

Coach of the Vietnamese gymnastics team Truong Minh Sang said that on the afternoon of August 7, he and the athletes were practicing when they heard that the Ministry was amending Decree 152 to submit to the Government to increase the benefits for athletes. Mr. Sang said: "Just hearing the news, the coaches and athletes are very excited. The students are practicing with much more excitement. Increasing the benefits for athletes and coaches is definitely a great motivation to help them focus on their contributions."

Proposal to have additional benefits for athletes and coaches who win medals in the Asian Games and Olympics

In addition to requesting a 100% salary increase for all athletes, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed additional special benefits for athletes with excellent monthly achievements at the following specific levels:

Athletes who win Olympic gold medals receive 40 million VND/person/month; Asian Games gold medalists receive 20 million VND/person/month; and those who qualify for the Olympics and win Paralympic medals receive 10 million VND/person/month. The subsidy period is 4 years from the time the athlete achieves success at the Games to the next Games.

However, according to many athletes and coaches, the recipients of this additional allowance should be expanded. Athlete Bui Thi Thu Thao said: "Winning an Asian Games or Olympic medal is extremely difficult in strength sports such as athletics, swimming, weightlifting, and gymnastics. I think athletes who win medals at these games in special key sports should also receive additional money instead of just applying it to athletes who win gold medals."

Coach Truong Minh Sang also said that for some sports like gymnastics, winning an Asiad medal is as difficult as winning an Olympic medal because the world's top athletes are all here. Therefore, if athletes with Asiad and Olympic medals also receive an increased allowance, it would be better for the athletes instead of only athletes who win gold medals enjoying this allowance.

"Coaches who train athletes to win medals at the Asian Games and Olympics should also be considered for an additional salary, which should be 50% of the salary for athletes. Without a good coach, it is very difficult to train excellent athletes," said coach Truong Minh Sang.

At the recent 2023 Asian Games, Vietnamese gymnastics excellently won a silver medal thanks to athlete Nguyen Van Khanh Phong (HCMC). Khanh Phong's Asian Games silver medal is considered as valuable as a gold medal.