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)