Sports law first step in improving athletes' welfare<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
After years of complaints about the sorry fate of many
\nathletes in retirement, the newly passed sports law -- including
\na section on entitlements for outstanding achievement -- is
\nsupposed to provide greater peace of mind.<\/p>\n
For badminton great Susy Susanti, it is simply a promising
\nstart, with the government needing to step up to bat with
\nconcrete measures.<\/p>\n
"Don't make promises, give us the proof," the 1992 Olympic
\nwomen's singles gold medalist, four-time All England winner and
\n1993 world champion said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
She noted that many bills passed into law were worth nothing
\nmore than the paper they were printed on amid a lack of
\nimplementation.<\/p>\n
"If there is no implementation, then what is the law meant
\nfor? I wouldn't allow my children to become athletes," said the
\n34-year-old mother of two.<\/p>\n
Susy also feared the government would hold off on providing
\nthe rewards for athletes amid the possibility of an economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
The bill on sports, first mooted when the state ministry on
\nyouth and sports affairs was established in 1983, was finally
\npassed into law on Tuesday, three days before National Sports
\nDay.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council presented it to the House in 1997
\nbut it was stuck in legislative limbo, undergoing revisions as
\ninput was sought from various parties.<\/p>\n
Many in the sports community decried the delay in its passage
\nand pointed to the declining achievements of national athletes as
\nit languished in the House.<\/p>\n
The law, consisting of 24 chapters with 92 articles, covers
\nsports institutions, funding, sports management, the government's
\nand public's share of responsibility in sports activities as well
\nas doping and its punishment.<\/p>\n
Article 86 on entitlements for outstanding achievement has
\ngained particular attention, especially with the arrest of
\njobless former world boxing champion Ellyas Pical earlier this
\nyear for alleged drug dealing and stories of other former
\nnational athletes eking out a living.<\/p>\n
The law states those entitled to rewards range from athletes,
\nsports organizations and others involved in sports; parties
\nproviding them can be the central or regional government, sports
\norganizations, nonsports organizations and\/or individuals.<\/p>\n
Entitlements range from "facilitation" for the achiever,
\nscholarships, insurance, employment, promotions, honorary awards,
\ncitizenship, a pension fund, welfare and other benefits.<\/p>\n
However, a presidential instruction is required to flesh out
\nthe details of the reward system.<\/p>\n
Purnomo, the country's top men's sprinter in the 1980s, and
\ncurrent women's national bowler Putty Armein said ensuring the
\nathletes' futures was most important.<\/p>\n
"Of course, what we need are concrete rewards, like a pension
\nfund, rather than honorary awards," said Purnomo.<\/p>\n
Susy said the granting of citizenship to non-Indonesian sports
\nfigures who have helped the country's athletes "should have been
\ndone a long time ago".<\/p>\n
She remembered Chinese coach Tong Sinfu, who was instrumental
\nin developing the games of men's singles champions Ardy B.
\nWiranata, Joko Supriyanto and her own husband, Alan Budikusuma,
\nin the 1980s.<\/p>\n
When he was unable to get citizenship after 13 years here,
\nTong returned to China.<\/p>",
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