SEAG medalists to get bonuses from tycoons

SEAG medalists to get bonuses from tycoons

JAKARTA (JP): Business tycoons will provide bonuses for
Indonesian medal winners at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in
Chiang Mai, Thailand, Chairman of the National Sports Council
Wismoyo Arismunandar said.

Wismoyo told reporters yesterday that the council was planning
to hold a meeting to discuss the matter with a group of well-
known businesspeople before the departure of the national
contingent to Chiang Mai.

He failed to confirm a date for the meeting, saying that it
will be hard to contact the busy tycoons. "Anyway, we hope to
reach agreement on the amount and the form of the bonuses before
we leave for the games on Dec. 6," Wismoyo said.

The council invited 50 prominent entrepreneurs for a dinner in
March and asked them to financially support all sports
organizations under the council's auspices.

"Medal winning athletes will receive bonuses from their
respective sponsors, not from us," Wismoyo said. "Mr. Mohammad
Hasan, for example, is responsible for the track and field team,"
he said.

The tycoons covered the council's budget for the SEA Games
which runs to Rp 18 billion. The council also got additional Rp
750 million from the government.

Wismoyo said last Friday that a gold medalist would receive Rp
25 million in cash, but he did not talk about the fates of silver
and bronze medalists.

"It was just my idea. I had not even consulted my staff when I
disclosed that," Wismoyo said yesterday.

A senior official of the council, Aribinuko Tjiptoadhidjojo,
told The Jakarta Post on Monday that all medalists would get
bonuses in the form of a five-year insurance policy. He said a
gold medalist would bag Rp 25 million, a silver medalist Rp 15
million and a bronze medalist Rp 10 million.

These bonuses are much bigger than those awarded to medalists
in the last Games. In 1993, the council awarded only Rp 1
million, Rp 750,000 and Rp 500,000 for each gold, silver, and
bronze medal respectively.

Wismoyo also confirmed yesterday that President Soeharto will
receive the national SEA Games contingent on Dec. 1 at the State
Palace.

The national team for an international sporting meet has
traditionally paid a courtesy call to President before their
departure.

Indonesia will parade 470 sportsmen and women who will compete
in 26 of 28 medal events in the Dec. 9-17 Games. The contingent
will include 108 coaches and 111 officials. Indonesia has set its
sights on winning 30 per cent of the 334 gold medals at stake to
defend the SEA Games overall title.

Gymnastic, cycling and table tennis teams will miss the
meeting with Soeharto because they will not return home from
their overseas stint. Instead, they will fly directly to Chiang
Mai.

The council will also gather the whole team for a quiet night
together before the athletes leave for the Games. Wismoyo said he
had yet to decide on a the date for the program. (amd)