Olympic champ urges welfare for pro athletes<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Olympic gold medalist shuttler Taufik Hidayat
\nappealed to the government to guarantee welfare for high-
\nachieving athletes when they retired.<\/p>\n
\"I believe the government should pay more attention to the
\nwelfare of former athletes. Many of them have been overlooked and
\nhave no clear future,\" Taufik told reporters after meeting
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri at the State Palace on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said the absence of such assurance from the government had
\ndiscouraged people from pursuing professional sports, and in
\ngeneral, hampered the development of national sports.<\/p>\n
\"Most parents are disinclined to let their children become
\nathletes, saying it is a profession without any future,\" remarked
\nthe 23-year-old shuttler, whose victory earned Indonesia the only
\ngold from Athens Olympics.<\/p>\n
When asked kind of government assistance retired professional
\nathletes might require, he replied: \"I do not know ... but we
\nhave sacrificed our youth and education to become national
\nathletes. One form may be to guarantee a job when we retire (from
\nprofessional sports). That would be an incentive.\"<\/p>\n
Taufik said he was unable to relay the request directly to
\nMegawati during his meeting, as \"I did not have a chance to say
\nanything to the President\".<\/p>\n
Stories about the gloomy future faced by former athletes have
\ncome to media attention recently, with most ending up in
\nstraitened circumstances without any welfare provided as a reward
\nfor their achievements.<\/p>\n
Taufik was invited along with other Olympic medalists to the
\nPalace, where Megawati conveyed a statement of gratitude and
\nappreciation for their achievements.<\/p>\n
Silver medalist weightlifter Raema Lisa Rumbewas and bronze
\nmedalist shuttlers Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Eng Hian and Flandy Limpele
\nwere also recognized at the meeting, accompanied by National
\nSports Council (KONI) chairman Agum Gumelar and Badminton
\nAssociation of Indonesia (PBSI) chairman Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
\"The president said she was highly satisfied with the
\nathletes' achievement. She also congratulated the Olympic
\nwinners ... and hoped that the Olympic medals won by our athletes
\nwould inspire the improvement of national sports,\" Agum said.<\/p>\n
He also expressed a hope that the next president would focus
\non national sports development.<\/p>\n
KONI has promised a Rp 1 billion (US$108,000) cash bonus for
\nsingles gold medalists and Rp 1.5 billion for each doubles team
\nthat wins a gold.<\/p>\n
Singles silver medalists are entitled to Rp 500 million and
\ndoubles team silver medalists Rp 750 million, while singles
\nbronze medalists will receive Rp 250 million and doubles team
\nbronze medalists Rp 350 million.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has fielded 39 athletes competing in 13 sports, the
\nmajority of whom have already returned from Athens. The cycling,
\nsailing, canoeing, track and field, tae kwon do and boxing
\nathletes will complete their events and start their journey home
\nas of Saturday.<\/p>",
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