The newly established Ministry for Sports and Recreation is now tasked to be responsible for proposing financial rewards for the national athletes who win gold medals from any international competition. 

They will make a proposal to Cabinet for consideration before they make a directive on which government entity should finance the rewards for medalists. 

This was confirmed by the Minister for Gambling Control Authority (G.C.A.), Leatinu'u Wayne So'oialo in response to questions from this newspaper on Tuesday evening. 

Leatinu'u's opinion was sought after this newspaper reached out to the Minister for Sports and Recreation and was asked to refer queries for the Minister whose portfolio the G.C.A. comes under. 

Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell told the Samoa Observer that he was at the hospital when contacted for a comment. 

In regards to questions whether the government will reward the medalists financially for representing Samoa well in the Pacific Games where Team Samoa collected a total of 76 medals. 

Leatinu'u replied that a proposal from the responsible ministry has yet to be made to Cabinet. 

He said the process is that there must be a request or proposal from the relevant government entity to the Cabinet for consideration. 

"We are having a Cabinet meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) so we'll see if there is a proposal or not," Leatinu'u said. 

"But it will have to come from the new ministry that is now in charge of the development of sports in the country. The government upon deliberation will then find the source of funding if there would be any financial rewards. 

"However, I am aware that there is already a policy in place on how medalists are awarded."

Team Samoa claimed a total of 34 gold medals from the recently-concluded Pacific Games held in the Solomon Islands. 

Last year in October, the government through the Gambling Control Authority awarded Don Opeloge $20,000 tala after he smashed the record in the men's 96kg during last year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester in England. 

The weightlifting guru, Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork was also presented a $10,000 tala cheque for leading the team to success at the Commonwealth Games.