East Java to honor record breakers
East Java to honor record breakers
JAKARTA (JP): All athletes that broke records in the just-
concluded 14th National Games will receive cash bonuses donated
by East Javanese businessmen.
East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman told reporters on leaving
Jakarta for his province's capital Surabaya yesterday that the
bonuses will be presented in East Java's capital city as soon as
he finishes compiling the names of the athletes.
A number of East Javanese businessmen had earlier promised to
raise funds for the record breakers, no matter where they came
from.
The lowest bonus, worth Rp 5 million (US$2,146), will be given
to a national record breaker. A new Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
record breaker will be rewarded with Rp 7.5 million ($3,200), an
Asian record breaker Rp 10 million ($4,300) and an Olympic record
breaker Rp 15 million ($6,400).
During the 12-day Games, which concluded Friday, 72 national
records, 13 SEA Games records and 30 Asian records fell. All the
latter were in power lifting. The East Javanese businessmen will
now have to cough up nearly Rp 1 billion ($426,000) for the
record-breaking athletes.
"Our businesspeople wanted to show how deep their commitment
is toward the improvement of national athletes' performances.
This is just one of the many ways to boost the competitors'
showing in international events," said Basofi, a former Jakarta
deputy governor.
Basofi said that the businessmen have so far managed to
accumulate Rp 150 million ($64,400) for the bonus fund.
The governor said that the award presentation ceremony may
coincide with the East Javanese team's get-together celebration.
East Java once again failed to overcome West Java in the medal
race during the recent Games. Basofi's athletes trailed their
West Javanese opponents by six golds to end in third place in the
medal tally, a repeat of the 1993 Games.
Basofi, however, had something to cheer and be proud of. "We
collected more medals this year than three years ago. We're
improving aren't we?" he said.
Despite the unexpected third place finish, East Java had the
honor of winning the soccer gold medal.
Surabaya has been dubbed a strong candidate to host the 15th
Games in 2000, although the government has hinted that the
quadrennial event will take place in Jakarta for the foreseeable
future. (amd)