TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo denied the news about the Rp6 billion bonus that will be given to Indonesian athletes who win gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He said, currently still exploring a meeting with President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to discuss this matter.

"Not (Rp6 billion). We are still waiting to meet with President Jokowi to provide reports and ask for instructions (about bonuses to gold medal-winning athletes)," he said when contacted by Tempo, Sunday, August 11, 2024.

Dito at the same time straightened out the statement of the Expert Staff for Innovation in Youth and Sports of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Yohan, who previously revealed that the bonus for athletes who won the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal was in the range of Rp5-6 billion and might even increase.

On a different occasion, Menpora Special Staff for Achievement Improvement and Sports Industry Development Ardima Rama Putra added that the figures circulating in the community are currently opinion. He emphasized that the bonus would only be determined after Dito discussed with Jokowi.

"Of course, the exact amount is still waiting for Mr. President's direction because the policy is with Mr. President. We from the Ministry of Youth and Sports only prepare all administrative matters to accelerate the process of disbursing the bonus," he said in a written statement, Friday night, August 9.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the government paid a gold medalist athlete Rp5.5 billion. Then for the silver medalist gets Rp2.5 billion, then the bronze medalist gets Rp1.5 billion. Apart from that, other Indonesian representatives who did not contribute medals were still given a bonus of Rp100 million. At that time, the Red and White Team ranked 55th in the final standings with a collection of five medals, one gold, one silver and three bronze. The only gold medal was presented by badminton through the women's doubles pair Greysia Polii / Apriyani Rahayu.

Currently, Indonesia has won three medals with details of two gold and one bronze. Two gold medals were donated by rock climbing athlete Veddriq Leonardo and lifter Rizki Juniansyah. While one bronze medal was inscribed by Gregoria Mariska Tunjung's single daughter. The opportunity to add to the medal collection is still open through lifter Nurul Akmal who will compete today Sunday, August 11.

Jokowi had previously confirmed that the government would provide bonuses to medal-winning athletes. However, he has not revealed the exact nominal. "I also just found out, it will be discussed later. What is clear is that there will be a bonus," he said after the event at the Jakarta Convention Center, Central Jakarta, Friday, August 9, 2024.

RANDY FAUZI FEBRIANSYAH

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