Sarah Lee Wai-sze might have only won a bronze medal but will be be rewarded more than American gold medallists, who will only receive US$25,000 (just under HK$200,000), less than a third of what the Hong Kong track cyclist will get.

When Lee returns home, she will get a golden handshake from Hang Seng Bank, whose incentive award scheme for the Olympics has promised every local athlete HK$3 million for bringing back a gold medal, HK$1.5 million for a silver and HK$750,000 for a bronze. So in monetary terms, a Hong Kong bronze is worth nearly four US golds. But at least the American athletes can take solace from the news that US President Barack Obama has supported a measure brought forward by the Republicans that all US medallists be exempt from paying taxes on their prize money.

The bank's generosity must be lauded. Yet, I doubt they would be so open-handed if Hong Kong was a true power like the US. Just imagine the bill if we came home with 30 gold medals, or if we had the equivalent of a Michael Phelps. As long as the numbers are small - winners that is - the sponsors can afford to spend big in theory.