different treatment for winners

After reading the letter column in the Straits Times, someone pointed out that the prize awards for Paralympic medals winners was much different from the Olympic, as well the from the last Paralympic. While I am sure the athletics would feel it to be an honor to represent the country to participate, but the question here is that why such big differences? Perhaps we can't group both event with the same status but such a big can't seem to justify without some explanations.

From 5-9-2012 Straits Times