Victorious athletes receive awards

A ceremony took place yesterday at the governmental palace to grant cash awards to the athletes who have won medals in the Olympics and World Championships. According to a presidential decree, each athlete who wins a gold medal in the Olympics will be awarded 4 million MNT per month for their lifetimes, while silver medalists will receive 3 million MNT, and bronze medalists will receive 2 million MNT per month. Athletes who win gold medals in the World Championships, with the same weight or distance category as the Olympics, will receive 2 million MNT every month for their lifetime, while athletes who win silver will receive 1 million MNT, and bronze medalists will get 500,000 MNT per month.

A total of 16 Olympic medalists and 17 World Championship medalists received awards in yesterday’s ceremony. These medalists included: the first athlete to win an Olympic Medal for Mongolia Ch.Damdinsharav; veteran Olympians J.Munkbat and Kh.Bayanmunkh; Paralympic gold medalist archer D.Baatarjav; and Olympic gold medal winning boxer E.Badar-Uugan. These athletes were granted their first month awards and received golden cards.

The awards were given in accordance with Presidential Decree 151 of August 16, 2012
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the medal-winning athletes as well as by high-ranking officials, including the head of the Presidential Office P.Tsagaan, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ts.Oyungerel, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry M.Tumenjargal, State Secretary of the Ministry P.Altangerel, Advisor to the President of Mongolia A.Ganbaatar, and the President of the Mongolian National Olympics Committee D.Zagdsuren.

In his speech at the ceremony, Mr. P.Tsagaan congratulated the athletes, saying, “One of the most honorable events in a human life is to earn everlasting fame in one’s country. This is a rare occasion. The President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj decreed on August 16 last year that monthly cash awards would be given to each Mongolian athlete who earned an Olympic or World Championship medal in their lifetime and ordered the government to enforce this initiative. I am very happy that the Innovation Government of Mongolia didn’t waste any time, and the decree of the president is being implemented today.”

The awards fund is set to be reflected in the State Budget every year and a total of 106 million MNT is to be set aside by the government each month for the athletes’ awards. The families and spouses of deceased athletes who have won medals in the Olympics or World Championships will be given a one-time grant equal to one year’s awards. In addition, if the athlete has both Olympic and World Championship medals, they will receive awards for all of their medals. The following are the top ten athletes, in terms of the highest cash awards received.

1. Z.Oidov, freestyle wrestler with Olympic silver, and two gold and bronze medals from the World Championships. Total award: 7.5 million MNT per month.

2. N.Tuvhsinbayar, judoka, Olympic gold and silver medalist. Total award: 7 million MNT per month.

3. Kh.Bayanmunkh, freestyle wrestler with Olympic silver and gold medals, and two silver medals from the World Championships. Total award: 7 million MNT per month.

4. P.Serdamba, boxer, Olympic silver and World Championship gold and bronze medalist. Total award: 5.5 million MNT per month.

5. E.Badar-Uugan, boxer, Olympic gold and World Championship silver medalist. Total award: 5 million MNT per month.

6. Kh.Tsagaanbaatar, judoka, Olympic bronze and World Championship gold and bronze medalist. Total award: 4.5 million MNT per month.

7. D.Baatarjav, Paralympics archer, Olympic gold medalist. Total award: 4 million MNT per month.

8. N.Tugstsogt, boxer, Olympic silver and World Championship silver medalist. Total award: 4 million MNT per month.

9. J.Munkhbat, freestyle wrestler, Olympic silver and World Championship bronze medalist. Total award: 3.5 million MNT per month.

10. O.Gundegmaa, shooter, Olympic silver and World Championship bronze medalist. Total award: 3.5 million MNT per month.

Mongolia first participated in the Olympics in 1964, in Tokyo. Mongolian athletes have participated in 12 Olympic Games since then and have won a total of 24 medals to date. The first Olympic medal won by a Mongolian was at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

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