Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz announced Wednesday the financial rewards that Dominican athletes will receive for winning medals at the 25th Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 8, 2026.
Cruz said the incentive program was approved under the instructions of President Luis Abinader as part of the government’s commitment to supporting the country’s athletes ahead of one of the region’s largest multi-sport events.
Bonuses for Individual and Team Sports
Athletes competing in individual sports will receive RD$300,000 for a gold medal, RD$150,000 for silver and RD$100,000 for bronze.
Team sports will receive larger collective incentives. Gold medal-winning teams will earn RD$3.2 million, while silver medalists will receive RD$2.8 million and bronze medalists RD$1.6 million.
Coaches and Federations Also Included
Coaches whose athletes or teams win gold medals will receive RD$200,000. Silver medal-winning coaches will earn RD$100,000, while those guiding bronze medalists will receive RD$75,000.
National sports federations will also benefit from the incentive program. Federations whose athletes win gold medals will receive RD$700,000, while those earning silver will receive RD$600,000 and bronze-winning federations will obtain RD$400,000.
Cruz explained that athletes and coaches who win multiple medals will receive only the incentive corresponding to their highest-valued medal.
Support Ahead of a Major Regional Event
The sports minister said the initiative reflects President Abinader’s continued support for Dominican athletes and coaching staff as they prepare to compete on home soil.
Luisito Pie, president of the National Athletes Commission and an Olympic medalist, welcomed the increase in prize money introduced during Cruz’s administration and praised the government’s commitment to the country’s sporting community.
The announcement was attended by Garibaldy Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD); José P. Monegro, president of the Santo Domingo 2026 Organizing Committee; and Luis Mejía Oviedo, president of Centro Caribe Sports.
Also present were Felipe Vicini, president of the CRESO program, COD Secretary General Luis Chanlatte, Treasurer José Mera, and the presidents of most of the country’s national sports federations.
The Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games are expected to bring together more than 6,000 athletes from 37 countries and territories, making them one of the largest multi-sport competitions in the Americas.