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Darth Andrianus
08-24-2005, 04:26 AM
Hello there,

I read this article in Jakarta Post today:



Govt considering concrete scheme to help former athletes

JAKARTA (Antara): President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday that the government was currently considering a concrete scheme in order to help former athletes who had made Indonesia name famous in the international sporting arena.

The president made the pledge after receiving Indonesia's badminton players who just returned from Anaheim, California.

During the meeting, Taufik Hidayat, who just won the IBF World Championship in Anaheim, urged the government to pay attention to the fate of the country's former sportsmen.

"I will invite donors who want to provide funds that will be managed in a transparent manner so as to help former athletes as well as cultural observers," Susilo said.

"I am saddened receiving an SMS (short message service) from a former famous artist who has no money to see the doctor," he said. Taufik and other badminton players bringing two crowns from the world title arrived here on Wednesday. The team were welcomed by Sutiyoso, chairman of Badminton Association of Indonesia,State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Adyaksa Dault and Secretary General of the National Sport Council, Rita Subowo, at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport. (*)




I was just wondering if you guys know anything about such schemes in other countries? I wonder what happens to badminton players who retire? Do they get anything at all from the government in addition to their coaching work or commentating or whatever?

Loh
08-24-2005, 05:32 AM
Singapore has just started the SBA (Singapore Badminton Association) Development Fund for the following:

1. SBA Scholarship Award
2. SBA Bursary
3. SBA Competition Subsidy, and
4. SBA Post-Competitive Career Development Grant

Details are available on the SBA website.

But of greater relevance to full-time national players is No.4 above which caters to the player's post-playing career development and to assist him/her to settle into another job after he has retired from active playing.

Hopefully, this Fund will accumulate and increase in size so that more financial assistance can be made available to the retired professional.