Big bonuses await Olympic medalists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Olympians arrived home yesterday to
\na low-key reception following their off-target performances in
\nAtlanta.<\/p>\n
After a brief welcome ceremony led by Coordinating Minister
\nfor People's Welfare Azwar Anas at Soekarno-Hatta airport, the
\nOlympic team was greeted by less-than rapturous cheers from a
\nsmall number of flag waving school students scattered along the
\nroad that led the athletes to the National Sports Council's
\nheadquarters at Senayan.<\/p>\n
It was a stark contrast to the thunderous reception given to
\nthe badminton idols who brought home two Olympic gold medals four
\nyears ago and to the winners of the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup last
\nMay.<\/p>\n
Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar announced that whopping
\nbonuses in the form of retirement insurance await all the medal
\nwinners. The bonuses are being provided by the Tugu Pratama
\ninsurance company, owned by Mohammad (Bob) Hasan, and the
\nPresident Soeharto-led Dharmais Foundation.<\/p>\n
Gold medalists will bag Rp 1 billion (US$422,000), silver
\nmedalists Rp 250 million and bronze medalists Rp 100 million,
\nwith some exceptions for doubles players. Coaches will share Rp
\n250 million in insurance money.<\/p>\n
Indonesia took a gold, a silver and two bronzes, all from
\nbadminton, to finish 41st in the medals table. The country sent
\n41 athletes to compete in 11 sports.<\/p>\n
World badminton men's doubles players number one Ricky Subagja
\nand Rexy Mainaky will top the list of new millionaires,
\ncollecting Rp 500 million each after earning Indonesia its sole
\ngold medal.<\/p>\n
The honorable Bintang Jasa Utama medal will be presented to
\nthe badminton players by President Soeharto on National Sports
\nDay this Sept. 9.<\/p>\n
Young hope Mia Audina will be Rp 250 million richer despite
\nher loss to South Korean Bang Soo-hyun in the women's singles
\nfinal.<\/p>\n
The two bronzes came from women's singles player Susi Susanti,
\na gold medalist in 1992, and men's doubles debutants Antonius
\nIrianto and Denny Kantono. The doubles players will share Rp 150
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
The council's treasurer, Setya Novanto, said that Wismoyo will
\nhand over the bonuses during a celebration at the Taman Anggrek
\nbuilding, West Jakarta, on Aug. 16.<\/p>\n
Novanto said that the medalists will receive the cash in five
\ninstallments over five years.<\/p>\n
\"The same kind of bonuses were given to the Indonesian
\nathletes who won medals in the 1995 Southeast Asian Games,\"
\nNovanto said.<\/p>\n
Susi and her fiance Alan Budikusuma shared Rp 1 billion in
\ncash bonuses from a number of businesses after winning two
\nsingles badminton gold medals in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
\n(yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/big-bonuses-await-olympic-medalists-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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