Sports Minister Plans Scholarship Program for Athletes

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo has said that he will set up a tailor-made scholarship program for Indonesian athletes, which will be supported by the Finance Ministry's Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).

Since such a program already exists in LPDP, the new scholarship specification focused on athletes would be conceived to enhance the scheme, he added.

"We will propose new specifications for LPDP focused on sports. This is to advance human resources in the national sports ecosystem," Ariotedjo informed during a visit to Aquatics Stadium at Bung Karno Sports Complex on Wednesday.

However, he did not divulge further details regarding the program's mechanism since further discussions are required before the scheme can be finalized.

"We will continue discussing the technical specification. To be honest, we are keen to see Indonesian athletes have a certain future and self-development that they can use in sports or their lives through this program," the newly-inducted minister said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) executive board chair Anindya Bakrie, who accompanied Ariotedjo during his visit to the facility to observe national-level intensive swimming training, commended the proposed program.

"This is certainly good news that our swimmers can receive LPDP scholarships to continue their education as generally, our swimmers have a good education," Bakrie said.

Ariotedjo's scholarship program proposal will continue the earlier program conceived by his predecessor Zainudin Amali under which athletes recording sports achievements received LPDP scholarships.

Law No. 21 of 2022 on the Grand Design of National Sports also prescribes scholarship provision in recognition of the achievements made by athletes.

Article 99, Paragraph 4, of the law specifies some forms of recognition that can be given to athletes such as scholarships, extraordinary promotions, state decorations, citizenship, welfare benefits, and other facilities that benefit the recipients.

ANTARA

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