CHAPTER4 IMPROVING INTERNATIONA LCOMPETITIVENESS AND PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL SPORTS EXCHANGE
SECTION2: TOWARD THE IMPROVEMENT OF INTERNATIONALCOMPETITIVENESS
7. Minister of Education,Science,Sports and Culture Awards
MESSC presents Minister of Education,Science,Sports and Culture awards to athletes and their instructors who have performed distinguished services in the promotion of sports in Japan,including those who have achieved outstanding results in international competitions.The awards are aimed at honoring the success of the recipients,to inspire them to further endeavor,and to arouse the interest of Japanese people in sports.A distinction is made between the presentation of Minister of Education,Science,Sports and Culture awards for Olympic medalists,and awards to athletes who have achieved outstanding results in other competitions.The awards for the former are based on the"Olympic Medalist Award Regulations,"(MESSC ordinance)legislated in February1994,and have been in effect since the1994Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer.
Reward Payments to Olympic Medalists The Japanese Olympic Committee(JOC)has been making reward payments to Olympic medal winners since the1992Winter Olympic Games in Albertville in order to honor the success of athletes who have achieved outstanding results,and to inspire them to further endeavor.In consideration of the special characteristics of the Olympic Games,with the FY1994 revisions to the tax system,income tax and residents'tax have not been levied on reward payments since the1994Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer.In the past,athletes who had won more than one medal only received a reward payment for one highest ranking medal.However since the1998Winter Olympic Games in Nagano,athletes now receive a reward payment for each individual medal won.
