Solve Athlete Welfare Problems

KOMPAS/Adrian Fajriansyah

Indonesia\'s mainstay female hurdler Emilia Nova is doing muscle strengthening exercises at the Senayan Madya Stadium, Jakarta, Tuesday (21/1/2020).

A survey by Kompas Research and Development has revealed a real problem with athlete welfare in Indonesia that requires a systemic solution to ensure our athletes’ wellbeing.

Indonesian athletes created an impression of prosperity when badminton women’s doubles pair Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu was showered bonuses and other awards of significant value after they won a gold medal in their event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

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The government bonuses that President Joko Widodo presented symbolically amounted to Rp 5.5 billion for gold medalists, Rp 2.5 billion for silver medalists and Rp 1.5 billion for bronze medalists. “Bonuses are also granted to coaches and non-medalist athletes, [the bonuses] are big enough but I need not mention [how much],” the President added. (Kompas, 13/8/2021)

Apart from the government bonuses, Tokyo 2020 medalists also enjoyed various awards from clubs, sports federations and the private sector.

Bonuses and awards of the same amount were also given to medalists of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Indonesia won two Paralympic gold medals in badminton, one by Leani Ratri-Khalimatus Sadiyah in the women’s doubles and another by Leani-Hary Susanto in the mixed doubles.

KOMPAS/Adrian Fajriansyah

The women\'s hurdles athlete Ken Ayu Thaya is doing routine training at the Senaya Madya Stadium, Jakarta, Tuesday (14/1/2020).

The bonuses and awards Indonesian athletes received for performing at the global level is like a mirage of our athletes’ welfare. This is in view of the large number of athletes who did not reach their peak achievements, whether because of injury or defeat in competition. Inevitably, they experience difficulties in obtaining the facilities and awards that secure their wellbeing.

The respondents comprised 193 active athletes and 137 former athletes.

The problem of athlete welfare in Indonesia, especially financial welfare, is reflected in the results of the online Kompas survey held on 1-10 Sept. 2021. A total of 330 active and former athletes of different sports in all 34 provinces took part in the survey. The respondents comprised 193 active athletes and 137 former athletes.

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The survey explored the athletes’ current welfare and their expectations that the government would guarantee better lives. The respondents were divided in their answers, with 40.9 percent responding that they had not received any welfare benefits and the remainder saying they had. However, as regards their financial welfare, 47.7 percent of respondents said they had not achieved prosperity.

The incomes that contribute to the financial welfare of active athletes come from government honorariums and allowances, as well as from side jobs they take up in addition to their occupation as professional and amateur athletes. (Kompas, 13/9/2021).

ARSIP MAST IRHAM

Gold medalists Greysia Polii (L) and Apriyani Rahayu (R) of Indonesia react during the Women\'s Doubles Badminton awarding ceremony at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Chofu, Tokyo, Japan, 02 August 2021.

Kompas’ coverage has also described the difficulties former athletes experience in old age. The coverage recounts the same issues already reported in past years by Kompas and various other media.

Our sports development system, besides targeting high achievements, should also ensure the welfare of our athletes. The state should guarantee the future of athletes who have given up their younger years to win achievements for the sake of bringing glory and fame to the nation.

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira).