National Athletes Who Worked Second Jobs Due to Athlete Village Closure to Receive Training Allowance

Korean Sports Council Revises Guidelines to Recognize Non-Face-to-Face Training for National Athletes
Assemblyman Lee Yong Leads Recognition of Remote Training for Athletes and Coaches
Effective from June with Support, Extension to Be Reviewed Based on COVID-19 Situation

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] A plan has been established to recognize non-face-to-face training of national team athletes and coaches as official training and provide allowances accordingly. This is expected to help athletes and coaches who faced difficulties in making a living due to not receiving training allowances after the suspension of training at the national team training center amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee Yong, a member of the Future United Party and former head coach of the bobsleigh and skeleton national team at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, announced on the 16th that the 'Guidelines for the Execution of Subsidy Budgets Related to Member Sports Organizations' have been revised to recognize non-face-to-face training as national team training through meetings with officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.

According to the revised guidelines, athletes, coaches, trainers, dedicated teams, and foreign invitation project coaches, excluding those in sports without national team reinforcement training in 2020, will receive training allowances for up to 20 days per month for non-face-to-face training. If non-face-to-face training plans are submitted by the 17th and approved, training allowances for June will be provided for non-face-to-face training conducted until the 30th. Considering the COVID-19 situation and the possibility of re-entry into the national team training center, a decision will be made on whether to extend the payment of non-face-to-face training allowances in July.

An official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained, "With training at the training center suspended due to COVID-19, coaches and athletes, except for some professional sports, who relied on training allowances as their main source of income, faced difficulties. After gathering such opinions, the guidelines were quickly revised." It is known that some national team athletes and coaches without other sources of income maintained their livelihoods through part-time jobs at convenience stores or as substitute drivers.

Representative Lee said, "Through this revision of the guidelines, I hope athletes and coaches can focus on preparing for the Tokyo Olympics without worries," adding, "I will continue to communicate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and related organizations to represent the voices of the sports field, improve infrastructure for school sports, enhance the rights of student athletes, and address difficulties faced by citizens participating in recreational sports."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.