Olympic champ urges welfare for pro athletes
Olympic champ urges welfare for pro athletes
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Indonesia's Olympic gold medalist shuttler Taufik Hidayat
appealed to the government to guarantee welfare for high-
achieving athletes when they retired.
"I believe the government should pay more attention to the
welfare of former athletes. Many of them have been overlooked and
have no clear future," Taufik told reporters after meeting
President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the State Palace on Thursday.
He said the absence of such assurance from the government had
discouraged people from pursuing professional sports, and in
general, hampered the development of national sports.
"Most parents are disinclined to let their children become
athletes, saying it is a profession without any future," remarked
the 23-year-old shuttler, whose victory earned Indonesia the only
gold from Athens Olympics.
When asked kind of government assistance retired professional
athletes might require, he replied: "I do not know ... but we
have sacrificed our youth and education to become national
athletes. One form may be to guarantee a job when we retire (from
professional sports). That would be an incentive."
Taufik said he was unable to relay the request directly to
Megawati during his meeting, as "I did not have a chance to say
anything to the President".
Stories about the gloomy future faced by former athletes have
come to media attention recently, with most ending up in
straitened circumstances without any welfare provided as a reward
for their achievements.
Taufik was invited along with other Olympic medalists to the
Palace, where Megawati conveyed a statement of gratitude and
appreciation for their achievements.
Silver medalist weightlifter Raema Lisa Rumbewas and bronze
medalist shuttlers Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Eng Hian and Flandy Limpele
were also recognized at the meeting, accompanied by National
Sports Council (KONI) chairman Agum Gumelar and Badminton
Association of Indonesia (PBSI) chairman Sutiyoso.
"The president said she was highly satisfied with the
athletes' achievement. She also congratulated the Olympic
winners ... and hoped that the Olympic medals won by our athletes
would inspire the improvement of national sports," Agum said.
He also expressed a hope that the next president would focus
on national sports development.
KONI has promised a Rp 1 billion (US$108,000) cash bonus for
singles gold medalists and Rp 1.5 billion for each doubles team
that wins a gold.
Singles silver medalists are entitled to Rp 500 million and
doubles team silver medalists Rp 750 million, while singles
bronze medalists will receive Rp 250 million and doubles team
bronze medalists Rp 350 million.
Indonesia has fielded 39 athletes competing in 13 sports, the
majority of whom have already returned from Athens. The cycling,
sailing, canoeing, track and field, tae kwon do and boxing
athletes will complete their events and start their journey home
as of Saturday.