SBY plants trust fund for retired athletes

[font=Helvetica, Arial]SBY plants trust fund for retired athletes [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica]National News - August 25, 2005[/font]

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[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]The Jakarta Post, Jakarta[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]Badminton star Taufik Hidayat is on top of the world right now, but he can still spare a thought for those athletes struggling to make it once their playing days are over.[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif][/font][font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]The first man to hold the Olympic and world crowns concurrently, Taufik was asked about his hopes during a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]"I want the government to think about the welfare of retired athletes," the 24 year old said. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]Susilo replied that the government was planning to set up a trust fund for former athletes as well as artists. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]"We can't make any promises but we are currently thinking about concrete actions to help athletes, and also artists, who have contributed their achievements to the nation," the President said. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]Taufik, visiting as part of the national team that competed in the world badminton championships in Anaheim, California, last week, is entitled to a host of bonuses, from sports organizations and the private sector, for his feats on court. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]However, other athletes, many of whom sacrifice their educations for their sports careers in their youth, find it hard to make a living in retirement. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]Susilo said the development of sports and the arts was among his priorities since he took office last October. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]"The commitment is not an empty promise, but it will be implemented to enliven the sports and arts sectors," he said. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]For the trust fund, the government would ask members of the public to make donations. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]"The funds shall be managed carefully, transparently and in an accountable way to support former athletes and artists," said Susilo, who added that he was touched by the stories of former athletes struggling to make a living. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]The assistance has come too late for Ellyas "Elly" Pical, the first Indonesian boxer to win a world belt in 1985. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]With only a fifth grade education, he was unprepared for competing outside the ring when he retired in the early 1990s. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]"I wish the government had given me a job," he told The Jakarta Post in June, adding that the government should provide a retirement program for athletes. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, Ms Serif]Only a month after the interview, Elly was caught allegedly trying to sell three ecstasy pills in a West Jakarta nightclub.[/font]