THE government has promised to extend cash awards to the disabled persons who win medals at major international events. Speaking during the final day of the Deaf Athletics Championships held at the Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday, Sports Minister Paul Otuoma said the deaf athletes have been in the forefront in bringing medals into the country and should also be given recognition just like their disabled counterparts.

The event attracted 215 from the 47 counties and a team was selected to represent the country at the second World Deaf Athletics Championships to be held in Toronto, Canada between July 12 and 22 this year. The government honours excelling sportsmen and women with cash award which in turn helps to empower them economically," said Otuoma.

The cash award scheme is uniform for all individual and teams regardless of their ability. In this regard, the athletes who will win medals will be awarded with Sh300,000 for gold, Sh200,000 (silver) and Sh100,000 for bronze medal." "Deaf athletes have continued to be good ambassadors and do the country proud," remarked Otuoma, observing the excellence of the team that took part in the 2009 Deaflympic summer games where the country garnered four gold, two silver and one bronze.

Otuoma said the government is in the process of developing 30 sports stadia around the country in line with the Vision 2030 and will be user friendly for both able and disabled persons. However, otuoma observed that it will be a huge task for the government to develop these facilities on their own and called on the corporate and individual sponsors to come on board and assist.