Record breakers await bonuses
Record breakers await bonuses
JAKARTA (JP): At the request of East Java Governor Basofi
Sudirman, the 14th National Games organizing committee will hand
out the cash bonuses provided by local businesses for all
athletes that broke records during the sporting event.
Basofi told reporters in Surabaya yesterday that the committee
has yet to decide the place and date of the presentation.
"Everything is up to the committee. The names of the athletes
and their records are with the committee, not us," Basofi was
quoted by Antara as saying.
Prior to the event, a group of East Javanese businesspeople
promised to grant each national record breaker Rp 5 million
(US$2,146) in cash. They also promised every Southeast Asian
Games record breaker Rp 7.5 million, Asian record beaters Rp 10
million and Rp 15 million for any athlete able to set a new
Olympic record.
Basofi said upon returning home to Surabaya from the event in
Jakarta last week that the cash rewards might be given during
last Thursday's get-together celebration held by the East
Javanese team. However, the committee has not submitted its list
and no bonuses were presented.
During the Sept. 9 to Sept. 21 National Games, 126 meet
records as well as 72 national and 30 Asian records were broken.
Basofi said that the local businesspeople are likely to have
to provide around Rp 500 million in prize money.
During Thursday's celebration, the governor confirmed the
government's support for the province to host the National Games
in 2000.
"Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas has
reported East Java's bid to President Soeharto, and the President
gave his approval provided that it would not affect development
in the province," said Basofi, who was deputy governor of Jakarta
before being elected governor of East Java in 1993.
Azwar officially closed the National Games last Friday on
behalf of the government.
Basofi asked all the people of East Java to stand behind him
in order to win the bid. The quadrennial sporting event has been
held in Jakarta since 1973.
"I am certain the Games campaign will be successful here
without any reservations," said Basofi. (amd)