SEA Games medalists set to receive bonuses next week
SEA Games medalists set to receive bonuses next week
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) plans next
week to disburse bonuses to athletes who won medals in the 1999
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam last month.
KONI vice chairman, Arie Sudewo, announced on Friday that KONI
was waiting for a bank check from state enterprises (BUMN).
"There is no change in schedule. We are waiting for BUMNs to
disburse the money. Insya Allah (God willing), athletes will
receive their money next week," he said.
Earlier, KONI said it was waiting for funds from the Office of
the State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises. From
the Rp 7 billion (US$823,529) budget promised by the office, KONI
has only received Rp 2 billion. It will request another Rp 1.5
billion for the bonuses.
KONI received Rp 12 billion from the National Development and
Planning Board (Bappenas), the Gelora Senayan Management Board
and the Office of the State Minister of the Empowerment of State
Enterprises.
KONI spent Rp 10.46 billion for the Games training program,
transportation and accommodation for the contingent.
An additional Rp 1.54 billion was used to pay bonuses, which
amounted to Rp 1.96 billion, and also to pay bonuses in the form
of insurance premiums equaling Rp 1.25 billion.
KONI has promised to hand over Rp 25 million to SEA Games gold
medalists, Rp 2 million to silver medalists and Rp 1 million to
bronze medalists.
It also decided to give Rp 5 million in cash for first-time
gold medalists, with the remainder being given in the form of
life insurance. Other athletes who have won SEA Games golds and
are not first timers will receive their bonuses in cash.
The KONI official in charge of planning and budgeting, Togi
Hutagaol, said he had sent an accountability report to the office
of the state minister. "We will soon receive the Rp 1.5 billion,"
he said.
Togi also said that KONI would cover the Rp 460 million
deficit itself. "We will try to get the extra money from our
treasury. But we still have plenty of time because the Rp 1.5
billion is enough to pay the athletes in cash, while we can pay
the insurance premium in installments," he said.
He said that a team headed by KONI's official in charge of
rewards and prizes, Mulyono, would select the insurance company.
Separately, men's singles shuttler Taufik Hidayat, who won
gold medals in the men's singles and men's team events, urged
KONI not to let down the athletes who were waiting for their
bonuses.
"It's not so much the amount of money, but KONI's appreciation
of its athletes. If it doesn't have any money, KONI should not
promise bonuses. A piece of paper showing its appreciation would
be more valuable," he said after a training session at the
Indonesian Badminton Center in East Jakarta.
"KONI forced me to join the team and I accomplished the
mission to take two gold medals. Don't treat athletes this way.
If it happens again, I won't compete in future SEA Games."
(ivy/yan)