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The Ugandan government has given cash rewards to star runner Joshua Cheptegei and the four other athletes who won medals at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April. Through the National Council of Sports (NCS), the body mandated to govern sports in the country, the five athletes shared a total amount of US$27,100 during a ceremony on Tuesday in Lugogo. Cheptegei won two gold medals, in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m, and received a cash prize of US$13,513, while Stella Chesang, who bagged gold in the women's 10,000m, pocketed US$5,410. Solomon Munyo Mutai, who won a silver in the marathon, bagged US$4,054, and the two bronze medalists, Mercyline Chelangat (10,000m) and boxer Juma Miiro (46-49kg) were given US$2,027 each. "I am very happy that we have been rewarded for our good show at the Commonwealth Games," Cheptegei told KweséESPN. "It is a good motivator for us because this is the first time this is happening." Chesang agreed that it would motivate athletes even further, knowing a bonus sat at the finish line. "This is a good move to reward athletes with cash when they perform," she told KweséESPN. Bosco Onyik, chairman of the board of the NCS, told the assembled media: "Through the National Organising Committee we promised our athletes who win this country medals to be rewarded. "We have lived by our word by offering this cash prize today. "Recognition, appreciation, and reward are key aspects in sports performance, for not only does it put value to effort but goes a long way in motivating athletes to always work harder to attain the best performance." Uganda finished in 15th place out of the 71 Commonwealth countries that competed on the Gold Coast. Their participation was blighted by the disappearance of six athletes, though, as 11 African participants fled the Athlete's Village during the event.
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