Canada's sports minister says money for Paralympic medals is on the way

For years, Canadian athletes have questioned why they do not receive financial rewards for winning medals at the Paralympic Games, while Canadian Olympic athletes who win medals are entitled to this benefit. On Thursday, the Canadian Minister of Sport announced that this situation would soon change. In an interview ahead of the 2023 Para Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, Carla Qualtrough said that an announcement on this matter is being prepared.

"We are doing this. I can assure you that before Paris, there will be some really exciting news in this regard, as there should be," Qualtrough said. She won three bronze swimming medals at the 1988 and 1992 Paralympic Games and also secured four gold medals at the World Championships for Team Canada.

No further details about the timing of the announcement were provided by the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC). However, in March of last year, a senior figure at the CPC stated that reaching an agreement on money for medals was a top priority.

"This is a very clear gap and it's time to address it," said Karen O'Neill, CEO of the CPC. "As much as we can change, but there also has to be some practicality. This is a priority."

Canadian Olympic athletes who win medals receive financial rewards – $20,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver, and $10,000 for bronze. This benefit does not exist for Canadian Paralympians who reach the podium, and this situation has persisted for over 25 years in the country.

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