Indonesian Government Promises Large Bonus Prizes for Olympic Medal Winners

Jakarta, 29 Syawwal 1437/03 August 2016  (MINA) – The Government has large cash prizes readied for Indonesian athletes who win medals at the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Jainero, Brazil, Antara reported.

Ministry of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi said here on Tuesday that the government has approved to give cash bonus of Rp5 billion (1 US Dollar equals to around Rp13,000) for each gold medal won, while each silver medal winner will receive Rp2 billion, and for each bronze medal, the athletes will get Rp1 billion.

“However, I dont want our athletes to be bonus-minded,” Minister Nahrawi said, adding that the important thing is their strong determination to push their limit and make history in their life.

Moreover, Olympics medalists will be given monthly lifetime allowance starting from Rp20 million for gold medalists, Rp15 million for silver medalists, and Rp10 million for bronze medalists.

The allowance, which is paid annually, is not only given to Olympic medalists but also to national athletes and the retired ones who had won medals in Olympic and Paralympic Games.

So far, 29 retired national athletes, three of which have changed their nationalities, have been receiving the allowance for bringing home Olympic medals to the country.

Meanwhile, as many as 28 Indonesian athletes will be participating in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

The Indonesian contingent to the 2016 Olympic has departed from the country on July 27 to Brazil.

Minister Imam Nahrawi is scheduled to depart to Brazil on Wednesday (Aug 3) to attend the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games.

The minister will also watch several games to provide direct support to the national archers and a BMX cyclist in the Olympic before heading back to the country on Sunday (Aug 7).

The upcoming major international multi-sport event will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 5 to 21 August 2016. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)