Hayono against over-publicizing of Games bonuses

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said yesterday that the bonuses handed over to the best 19th SEA Games athletes should not be over-publicized.

"I think it's better to give the bonuses quietly and not exaggerate them because not all sports organizations can provide handsome bonuses," he said.

"But it is more difficult to control if the bonuses come from private companies."

Hayono was commenting on the sports organizations and companies which were giving generous bonuses to some athletes.

Former disgraced swimmer Chaterine Surya, who rediscovered her Midas touch at the regional sports gathering, surprisingly became the richest woman athlete after she picked up a bonus of Rp 242 million (US$76.000) for winning three gold medals.

This was her share of the Rp 1.2 billion offered in bonuses by the Tirtamas Group to swimmers and coaches at the Games.

Richard Sam Bera, who won three golds, received Rp 222.5 million and Rita Mariani, who also won three golds, received Rp 220,000,000.

Hayono said: "We appreciate our athletes and coaches who have dedicated all that they have to Indonesia's achievement in sports. And I really respect their spontaneous gesture to give some of their bonuses to help our brothers and sisters in Irian Jaya, who have suffered from drought."

The swimmers gave two percent of their bonuses to the drought victims.

"If the public companies keep providing the bonuses, the public will start asking and judging it as an overreaction."

Hayono said the publication of the bonuses after the Games was in stark contrast to the Games preparations, which were marked by a lack of funds.

"It's very contradictory because we faced a lack of funds to stage the event but after Indonesia won, many people want to give bonuses to the athletes. It seems the Games did not have any financial problems.

"But we have to realize that many companies have promotion funds which are given to outstanding athletes or other public figures."

Hayono said the government must have a special board in the next cabinet to control sports funding, to oversee athletes' and sporting development.

Bonuses were also given to Felix Sutanaznit (Rp 122 million), Elsa Nasution (Rp 32 million), Meitri Pangestika (Rp 42 million), Wisnu Wardana (Rp 22 million), Tyas Titisaridan (Rp 50 million) and Lenny Puspita (Rp 50 million).

Divers and water polo players who did not win any golds were also awarded bonuses.

Hashim also gave bonuses to coaches Lukman Niode (Rp 30 million), Gerald Item (Rp 30 million), Iskandar Suryaatmadja (Rp 15 million), Irsan Sutedja (Rp 15 million), Suwarto Thomas (Rp 15 million), Ida Djamain (Rp 10 million) and Dinda Rachmani (Rp 10 million).

Deserve

Hashim said the swimmers and coaches deserved the bonuses as they had spent so much time training for the SEA Games.

"I only hope that this can encourage other swimmers to follow in the footsteps of their seniors. I also hope that the Indonesian swimmers not only prove superior in the SEA Games but also at the Asian Games and the Olympics."

Tirtamas Group has also helped PRSI to the tune of Rp 1.2 billion for the SEA Games training sessions.

Rahardi said that the bonuses given to the swimmers should be used wisely.

"The bonuses were intended to help the swimmers' education while overseas, which is expensive," Raharadi said.

Rahardi added that overseas training would be continued since it was considered very effective.

"In the United States, for instance, our swimmers not only train but at the same time continue his or her studies," Rahardi said.

Earlier yesterday, Hayono solved the allowance problems of the 660 youths who took part in the Games opening and closing ceremonies.

Hayono said some donors have helped to solve the problem, but only for half the youths.

The 660 youths only received Rp 200,000 while the flag and participating countries' board carriers received more.

Wing Prasetyo, representing the youths, said that the organizers did not have any more funds and Hayono had given out his own money to help them.

"We are really glad that the minister heard our complaints and helped us with his own money. It's not a problem if only half of us received the money, which is Rp 50,000 each. We'll give it to our friends who live outside Jakarta and come from low income families." (yan/lnt)