Grange ... I am going to be discussing when they can come home and how soon they can come back home. - File

BEIJING:

MINISTER OF Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, says the Government is working on "something special" to honour the athletes, who have been producing a number of outstanding performances at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"Yesterday, it was amazing. Today, I cried," the sports minister said after witnessing the smashing victory by Shelly-Ann Fraser in the women's 100 metres final here on Sunday night.

Fraser's gold medal performance, followed closely on that of Usain Bolt's world-record run in the same event the previous night.

"We have to do something special. This is extraordinary," she said.

The minister, who flew into Beijing on August 13 and has been meeting and greeting the athletes in the 'mixed zone' (an area where journalists interview athletes) here, said she will be meeting the athletes tomorrow.

Monetary rewards

"I am going to be discussing when they can come home and how soon they can come back home. And, that time, we will be able to finalise our plans. We are really going to do something special, extra special," Grange said.

Following the last Olympics in Athens four years ago, medallists were given monetary rewards by the previous Government. Grange declined to give any specific commitment.

"We will do something special. That is all I can say at this time," she said shortly after hugging 100 metres silver medallist, Kerron Stewart.