TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The government has increased bonuses for Taiwan’s Paralympic athletes, President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said on Friday (Aug. 23).

Lai made the announcement at a farewell ceremony for Taiwan’s Paralympic team, which departs for the Summer Paralympics in Paris on Friday evening, per CNA. 

Bonuses for gold medal winning Paralympians will increase from NT$4 million (US$125,176) to NT$6 million, the silver medal bonus will be upped to NT$2.1 million, and the bronze medal bonus to NT$1.5 million, Lai said.

While saying farewell to the athletes, Lai also gave the delegation a NT$200,000 bonus. “I am very happy to be here to cheer on all the Taiwanese heroes,” Lai said.

Under the new regulations, Paralympic gold medalists can opt to receive NT$31,000 per month in perpetuity, instead of NT$6 million. Taiwan awards bonuses for athletes who place up to sixth in Paralympic competitions, and has increased bonuses at all levels. 

Coaches of Paralympic athletes will also receive a significant increase in bonuses for winning medals, per UDN. Coaches of gold medal winners will receive an extra NT$550,000, bringing the total to NT$800,000, Lai said.

Prizes awarded to athletes in the Deaflympics, the Asian Para Games, and the Asia Pacific Deaf Games will also increase by the same amount as those awarded to Paralympians, Lai said.

Taiwan's Paralympic team has 13 members who have qualified to participate in seven sports, according to the sports administration. The sports are table tennis, badminton, archery, taekwondo, track and field, powerlifting, and judo.

Seven of the athletes are female and six are male. The youngest of the Taiwan team to attend the games is 17-year-old table tennis player Chen Pai-yen (陳柏諺), and the oldest is 65-year-old archer Tseng Lung-hui (曾隆煇).