Ex-athletes gather to seek a better future<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): About 150 former athletes gathered for the Great
\nReunion of Athletes from Three Eras organized by Prestasi Anak
\nBangsa Foundation at the Bung Karno Tennis Indoor Stadium in
\nSenayan, Central Jakarta on Sunday to seek a better future.<\/p>\n
Former 1960s shuttler Ferry Sonneville, who is also the
\nfoundation's chairman, told reporters the reunion mainly aimed at
\nregistering all former national athletes.<\/p>\n
"We must admit that not all former athletes are having a
\ndecent standard of living after their glorious days. There is a
\nformer cyclist who is today a becak (pedicab) driver while
\nanother athlete works as a security guard."<\/p>\n
"By registering them, the foundation can channel donations to
\nneedy athletes. We will also provide business and leadership
\ntrainings as well as scholarships."<\/p>\n
The number of former athletes who attended the gathering was
\nfar below the foundation's expectation. It had earlier expected
\nabout 2,000 athletes to attend.<\/p>\n
At Sunday's reunion, the establishment of the National
\nAthletes Brotherhood of Indonesia (PANI), which aims to improve
\nthe welfare of former athletes, was announced.<\/p>\n
The attendees appointed 13 former athletes to PANI's board of
\nexecutives. They are Arie Soedarsono, Ferry Sonneville, Henri
\nPribadi, Icuk Sugiarto, Lily Sampurno, Lintje Rumbay, Maulwi
\nSaelan, Meity, Muhammad Sarengat, Purnomo, Sri Hastuti Merdiko,
\nSyamsul Anwar Harahap and Tan Joe Hok.<\/p>\n
The foundation's vice executive director, Purnomo, said the
\nfoundation would provide financial and other assistance to those
\nwho joined the brotherhood.<\/p>\n
"PANI members will receive, for example, financial assistance
\nto help expand their businesses," he said.<\/p>\n
"We will also provide legal assistance to athletes having
\nproblems with their sports organizations."<\/p>\n
Purnomo, Indonesia's best sprinter in the 1980s, also promised
\nthe foundation and brotherhood will be run as professionally and
\ntransparently as possible.<\/p>\n
"We will hire professionals to handle the business and
\nmanagement matters.<\/p>\n
"The foundation has a professionally-run business unit which
\nprovides goods and services. We have patented Wahana Atlet
\nOlahraga Wirasakti (WAOW) as our trademark."<\/p>\n
He also lamented the fact that the National Sports Council
\n(KONI) and most sports organizations did not have an athletes
\ncommission in their structure.<\/p>\n
Former basketball player Henry Pribadi said the reunion had a
\nnoble cause.<\/p>\n
"We can exchange our experience and knowledge for our mutual
\nbenefit as well as the country's," he said.<\/p>\n
The foundation will launch WAOW's products -- which includes
\napparel and canned drinks -- on Feb. 17 at Mulia Hotel.<\/p>\n
KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar expressed hope, during the
\nreunion, that sports would serve as a tool to improve the
\nnation's tarnished image.<\/p>\n
"By performing well in sports, we can improve our country's
\nimage."<\/p>\n
Wismoyo also urged former athletes to help improve the
\nperformance of their juniors and also sports organizations.<\/p>\n
"We finished second in the Jakarta 1962 Asian Games but was
\nonly placed 11th in the 1998 Asiad. I hope former athletes,
\nthrough the foundation, can contribute their ideas on how to
\nimprove sports for the sake of our country." (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ex-athletes-gather-to-seek-a-better-future-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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