KONI should reconsider bonus plan: Minister<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono
\nIsman asked the National Sports Council (KONI) yesterday to
\nreconsider its plan to give Rp 25 million (US$11,300) to each
\nathlete winning a gold medal at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in
\nChiang Mai, Thailand.<\/p>\n
\"As a token of appreciation, the sum should not be that much,\"
\nHayono said.<\/p>\n
Hayono asked: If SEA Games gold medalists were to be rewarded
\nso generously, how much more money would have to be awarded to
\ngold medalists in far more important events like the Asian Games
\nor Olympic Games?<\/p>\n
Hayono added that the government (his ministry) would have no
\nneed to intervene in regulating the incentives if they were
\nsecured from public donations.<\/p>\n
Hayono made the point at a hearing with House Commission IX at
\nthe House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar announced on Nov. 17 the
\nplan to award cash incentives for gold, silver and bronze
\nmedalists at the Games.<\/p>\n
Togi Hutagaol, KONI's budgeting director, later added that the
\nincentives would be given in the form of an insurance policy
\npayable after five years.<\/p>\n
A few days later, however, stressing that the idea was not
\nfinal, Wismoyo said a meeting would be held with the country's
\ntycoons, on whom KONI relies heavily for funds, to discuss the
\nincentive idea.<\/p>\n
Promises of cash and houses have been used to boost Indonesian
\nathletes' performance in previous SEA Games. In 1993, the council
\nrewarded gold medalists Rp 1 million, silver medalists Rp 750,000
\nand bronze medalists Rp 500,000, after Indonesia retained the
\noverall title.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo introduced a new reward system for athletes in August
\nwhen he proposed retirement plans worth Rp 1 billion ($454,000)
\nfor each athlete winning a gold medal in the 1996 Olympic Games.<\/p>\n
Hayono said he supported the idea of awarding bonuses to
\nacknowledge outstanding performance, but stressed the idea should
\nbe regulated.<\/p>\n
A decree should be passed to secure a source of funds and
\nensure a standard amount was awarded, he said.<\/p>\n
The award should also correspond to the degree of importance
\nof the sporting event, he added.<\/p>\n
A similar concern was also voiced by noted sports observer
\nMangombar Ferdinand Siregar. Reiterating what Hayono suggested,
\nSiregar warned one thing could play havoc with the incentive
\nidea.<\/p>\n
\"In order to get the bonuses, athletes may be tempted to
\nresort to drugs, as was the case at the 1993 National Games,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The 1993 National Games became the biggest doping scandal in
\nIndonesian sporting history after rich provinces promised their
\nwinning athletes huge cash bonuses. Five athletes, including top
\nJavanese swimmer Catherine Surya, were stripped of their medals
\nfor using drugs.<\/p>\n
Commenting on provinces giving athletes allowances to attend
\nthe SEA games, Siregar said the practice had been going on for
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Jakarta governor Surjadi Soedirdja handed out on Sunday
\nallowances totaling US$47,400, or $300 to each of the province's
\n158 athletes and officials. Previously, on Dec. 1, East
\nKalimantan gave each of its athletes $500. East Java handed $100
\nto each of its SEA Games-bound athletes on the same day. (arf)<\/p>",
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