Kemenpora Supports Athletes Participating In The 2021 Tokyo Olympics

The government provides support to athletes participating in the 2022 Olympics (Photo: Raiky / kemenpora.go.id)

JAKARTA - The government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenpora RI), is confirmed to provide support to athletes and sports that will participate in international Olympic and Paralympic sports events in Tokyo, Japan in 2021.

One of the supports provided by the government is to facilitate athletes in preparing and coaching at the National Training Center (Pelatnas) by implementing health protocols.

"On the one hand, the implementation of health protocols established by the government. But we also support athletes' activities to carry out the National Pelatnas, we facilitate, "said Deputy IV of Kemenpora Achievement Improvement Division, Chandra Bhakti in a Media Gathering event entitled 'Indonesia Towards the 2021 Tokyo Olympics', Tuesday, May 4.

Not only for sports that participate in the Olympics, Kemenpora also continues to provide guidance to other sports. This includes organizing national sports tournaments and events even in the midst of a pandemic such as the 2021 Menpora Cup pre-season tournament, 2021 Indonesian Basketball League (IBL), boxing and others.

"So that athletes do not only do training. But also doing competitions as a measure or to find out where the training achievements have been, "he said.

In addition, Chandra confirmed that the government will provide other support for athletes heading to Tokyo who will board business class aircraft. This is a form of government appreciation to athletes.

"Because to arrive at the Olympics there must be qualifications and this is different from the SEA Games. They have to collect points first to qualify. So we will place the Olympic athletes in the business class," he explained.

Meanwhile, regarding bonuses for athletes who won medals, Chandra ensured that they would get more bonuses than the previous Olympics.

"Usually, the bonus never goes down, there it goes up. For example, yesterday at the SEA Games the bonus was Rp. 200 million for those who won the gold medal. The fact is that when we get good results, our performance increases, the President's direct appreciation will be increased to 500,000,000, "he said.

Chandra ensured that the bonus for athletes who won gold medals in Tokyo was not less than IDR 5 billion. The reason is, the bonus is reflected in the bonus given by the government at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

"The measure to achieve this achievement is not easy. Even bronze or silver is difficult, let alone gold. So, the bonus will not be separated from the Rp. 5 billion value, usually even given before the athlete's sweat dries, it doesn't take long," he said.

"The bonus is another form of appreciation, I am sure the value is not less than IDR 5 billion. Hopefully in Tokyo, it is more than that value," added Chandra.

Meanwhile, the President of Indonesia's NOC, Raja Sapta Oktohari suggested that not only medal winners at the Olympics be awarded. However, he hopes the government will provide bonuses to athletes who have qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

"Because the struggle to get a ticket is very difficult and requires a hard struggle considering other countries also want it. It seems that athletes who qualify for the Olympics should also be rewarded. At the 2016 Rio de Janeioro Olympics, athletes who qualify will receive a bonus of IDR 100 million, ”he explained.