Professional athletes in Macao received an average of 670,000 patacas (US$83,200) each in support last year, according to social affairs and culture secretary Elsie Ao Ieong U.
In a question and answer session at the legislature yesterday, the official said Macao spent a total of 16 million patacas (roughly US$2 million) on full-time athletes, of which 13 million patacas (US$1.6 million) went on training subsidies.
She added that the Sports Bureau was also reviewing the subsidy scheme. Macau Post Daily reported that there would be increases in training allowances for elite athletes and subsistence allowances for retired professionals.
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Responding to a lawmaker, Ao Ieong meanwhile said that it would be difficult to run the Macau Grand Prix as a self-funding enterprise.
She said that turnover during last year’s six-day event amounted to 2.28 million patacas, in spite of a record turnout of 145,000 spectators, Macau Post Daily reported.
Souvenir stands and other booths accounted for more than 40 percent of that figure, Ao Ieong said.
