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)