Some 15 thousand athletes from 45 countries in Asia, including from the host country Indonesia, are competing hard in the Asian Games for pride and glory and are also chasing massive medal-winning cash bonuses.
The essence of the Asian Games is for athletes to compete hard, so that they can bring pride and shiny medals for their country.
Athletes with outstanding performance deserve an outstanding reward. Indonesia`s program allows the government to extend a cash bonus to a professional athlete or team in exchange for an amazing performance.
Gold medalists will receive tempting bonuses of varying amounts, including housing and civil servant status.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minster Imam Nahrawi has said that the government has prepared bonuses for the athletes who win medals and bring fame to the Indonesian nation.
The minister has promised that every athlete who gets a gold medal will have the right to receive Rp1.5 billion for individuals,Rp1 billion for a partner, and Rp800-900 million for a team.
For trainers, assistant trainers, silver, and bronze winners, the value of the bonuses cannot be ascertained. The calculation is still being carried out in detail as each sport is different from the other.
In addition to money, which is later sent to the account of athletes without tax deductions, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing is also preparing housing for the outstanding athletes, as well as the status of State Civil Apparatus in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
The status of State Civil Apparatus is not only for gold medalists but also for silver and bronze winners.
When asked about the bonus disbursement, the youth affairs and sport minister promised to carry it out together with the 2018 Asian Para Games.
The Asian Para Games 2018 is an Asian sports party that will be held from Oct 6 to 13 in Jakarta.
The government has promise that the amount of bonuses given to Asian Games and Asian Para Games athletes would e the same and the disbursement would also be at the same time.
Meanwhile, athletes who have not been able to win a medal at the Asian Games this time are expected not to be discouraged as the government would give also appreciate their struggle for the nation.
"Achievements do not stop here, because there are many events and championships in the near future, such as 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, 2022 Asian Games in China, and other sports events," the minister remarked.
Nahrawi has given a Rp1.5 billion bonus to Indonesian taekwondoin Defia Rosmaniar, who won the country`s first gold medal in the Asian Games 2018.
He symbolically handed over the bonus to Rosmaniar at the Youth and Sports Ministry in Jakarta last Monday.
The minister congratulated Rosmaniar and said that the Rp1.5 billion bonus would be transferred to her account after the 2018 Asian Games is over, or probably in October 2018.
In addition to cash bonuses, the government has also prepared bonuses in other forms for athletes who contribute gold medals to the Indonesian contingent.
In the meantime, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung stated on Wednesday that the bonuses have been prepared for the Indonesia`s outstanding athletes.
"The minister of finance has prepared the amount of bonuses for outstanding athletes and has also urged the minister for sports and youth affairs to calculate everything," Pramono remarked in response to queries by newsmen at his office here on Wednesday.
Pramono emphasized that when the second-largest sporting event in the world concludes, the bonuses promised to athletes winning medals will immediately be distributed to them.
"Soon after the Asian Games closing ceremony is over, the bonuses will be immediately distributed to the athletes who win gold, silver, and bronze medals, in accordance with what the minister of sports and youth affairs had conveyed," the cabinet secretary remarked.
On the occasion, Pramono also lauded the athletes who had fought and delivered proud achievements for the country.
"As of day 11, on Wednesday, of the Asian Games, we have won 25 gold medals, and that is a proud and extraordinary achievement," Pramono stated, expressing hope that the athletes would be able to maintain the fourth rank in the medal table in the 2018 Asian Games.
Further, he added that the Indonesian athletes have given their best till date.
"If we compare our performance with that of the Asian Games in 2006, 2010, and 2014, our achievements now are extraordinary," he explained.
Pramono revealed that the achievements of these athletes were due to the success achieved in their management.
He also lauded the huge public support that boosted the spirit of the athletes to deliver high achievements.
Editing by Ine
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
