Opposition leader Don Polye says it is not a good idea to give monetary incentives to PNG athletes who win medals.
While commending athletes, Polye says the pacific games should be about solidarity, friendship and sportsmanship.
He says the incentive is bad because to date it has done nothing to build sports interest in rural places if PNG.
“When you commercialize sports, you break the spirit of sportsmanship and that is not good. What are you going to do for sports in rural areas?" he said.
He says most PNG athletes are young and providing better training facilities and sports venues will take them a long way.
Polye has also accused the government of not spending money outside of the Pacific Games budget.
Sports and Pacific Games Minister Justin Tkatchenko says the bonuses were part of K5.7 million set aside for gold winning performances as a morale booster for Team PNG.
The government incentive was approved last week.
The Government will recognize all Gold medalists, both individual and teams.
It means teams that won Gold will receive K20 000 per athlete just like individual Gold medalists.
This incentive started last year when the government recognized Commonwealth Games weightlifting champions Toua and Kari — both received K100,000 each from the government.