E. Java athletes wait for bonuses
E. Java athletes wait for bonuses
JAKARTA (JP): Although Governor Basofi Soedirman is ready to
award bonuses to the East Javanese who broke records at the
National Games last month, he cannot do so until the East Java
chapter of the National Sports Council receives the official list
of record breakers from the Games organizing committee.
"We've asked and even sent a representative to the organizing
committee about the athletes data but the organizers said that
they could not provide exact data," chairman of the council's
East Java chapter, Abdul Hamid, said yesterday in Surabaya.
"They asked us to send an official letter last week but there
is still no answer today," he said.
Abdul Hamid, also a deputy Surabaya governor, said that East
Java could not award the bonuses until competition data had been
endorsed by the organizers.
"The bonus from East Java businesspeople is ready and I'm
ready to award it right now if only the data from the organizers
were complete," he said.
East Javanese businesspeople have donated money for cash
bonuses for all record breakers at the Games, no matter which
province they represent.
East Java medalists have been awarded a total Rp 5.3 billion
(US$2.25 million) in bonuses from the province's budget.
East Java hopes to hold the next National Games in its
capital, Surabaya.
East Java finished third in the recent Games with 65 gold
medals, 83 silvers and 79 bronzes. Host Jakarta won with 141
golds, 84 silvers and 79 bronzes. West Java came second with 71
golds, 85 silvers and 97 bronzes.
The organizers reported that 156 Games records, 72 national
records and 13 Southeast Asian Games records were broken. Thirty
Asian Games records and 12 junior world records were also broken.
Abdul said national record breakers would be given Rp 5
million bonuses; Southeast Asian Games record breakers would be
given Rp 7.5 million; Asian Games record breakers would be
granted Rp 10 million; and Olympics record breakers would be
given Rp 15 million each.
Many athletes have gone to the Surabaya chapter of the sports
council wondering about their promised bonuses. (yan)