Youth and Sports Minister Says Paralympic Athletes Will Receive Bonuses Just Like Olympic Athletes

President Jokowi receives Indonesian Paralympic athletes of Rio 2016 Paralympics on Thursday (22/9), at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday (22/9) at the Merdeka Palace Jakarta, received Indonesian Paralympic athletes participating in the Rio 2016 Paralympics, Brazil. At this year’s Paralympics, Indonesia won a bronze medal.

Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi who accompanied the President in the event said that the Government would award the athletes in the form of houses, bonuses, and pension plan as given to the athletes who won medals at the recently concluded Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Take Widi, for example. She won bronze medal and she will get a Rp1 billion bonus plus pensions of Rp10 million for her lifetime from the Government,” said Imam, who was accompanied by power lifter Ni Nengah Widiasih who snatched bronze medal in the women’s-41 kg category at the Paralympics.

The bonuses were symbolically given on Wednesday (21/9) and it will officially be rewarded along with medalists of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Brazil, in mid-October.

Imam also said that President Jokowi asked Indonesian athletes to prepare for the upcoming Asian Paralympics in 2018 and 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. According to the Minister, Indonesia will prioritize four sports in Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, namely weightlifting, table tennis, athletics, and swimming and it is hoped that Indonesia can improve its rank in the medal tally.

“We won one bronze medal now, hopefully in Tokyo 2020 Paralympics we can expect more. It is because 9 athletes will break their own records. For example 15-year-old swimmer, Syuci who was the only Asian in the Final and secured the 5^th position at the 2016 Paralympics. She is still young,” Imam said.

The Paralympic Games is a major international multi-sport event involving athletes with a range of disabilities.

At this year’s Paralympics, Indonesia sent 9 athletes in 4 sports. They are: Ni Nengah Widiasih (weightlifting), Siti Mahmudah (weightlifting), Setyo Budi Hartanto (athletics), Abdul Halim Dalimonte (athletics), Agus Ngaimin (swimming), Jendi Panggabean (swimming), Syuci Indriani (swimming), Marinus Melianus Yowey (swimming), and David Jacob (table tennis).

Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, and Indonesian National Police Chief Tito Karnavian accompanied President Jokowi when receiving the athletes and the officials.
(FID/ES)(RAS/EP/YM/Naster)