Best local athletes to receive cash prizes

Best local athletes to receive cash prizes

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta-based sports journalist association, Siwo Jaya, will introduce cash prizes when it announces the national athletes of the year on March 23.

Election committee chairman Ian Situmorang said yesterday that the organizers had collected Rp 175 million (US$76,400) through sponsorship to create the new tradition of cash awards.

"Nothing wrong with cash prizes as a token of appreciation," said Ian, a senior journalist from the sports weekly tabloid Bola..

Ian, however, refused to disclose the amount of money to be given to the country's best athletes.

The association signed on Wednesday an agreement with promoter Lautan Berlian Group, a private company which provided the funds for the awards.

Siwo Jaya has conducted the annual award presentation since 1992. More than 200 sports journalists voted for male and female athletes of the year, as well as best coach and sports advocate.

Ian said the association also would involve government officials, the National Sports Council and former sports journalists in the upcoming poll.

Badminton star Susi Susanti has won female athlete of the year three times in a row since 1992, and remains a strong favorite to take her fourth, despite her setbacks of 1995. (amd)