IO – The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the sports world hard. Competitive events planned for this year, such as the National Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Nasional – “PON”) and SEA Games, are being delayed until next year. Consequently, both athletes and coaches are suffering great economic setbacks. “We know that our athletes serve their best to get the Red and White flying and the Indonesia Raya being sung all over the world. We of Pertiwi Indonesia express our thanks and appreciation by donating basic necessities to sportsmen and women who are economically impacted by COVID-19,” said Shinta Omar, Executive Chairwoman of Pertiwi Indonesia at Bulungan Sports Hall, on Saturday, 4 July 2020.
Pertiwi does its best to help put. Shinta stated that this organization, which is primarily concerned with women’s affairs, is entrusted by various groups, associations, corporations, and individuals to distribute donations to various beneficiaries. The money originates with Anak Bangsa Volunteers (Relawan Anak Bangsa – “RAB”). Other than the above 15,000 packages of basic necessities, Pertiwi has also distributed Personal Protective Devices (“PPEs”) to medical workers in more than 80 hospitals and Community Health Centers (Pusat Kesehatan Masyarakat – “Puskesmas”). They have also shared with various artists who suffered because their shows and events were cancelled on account of the disease.
“Pertiwi does its best to support Government programs for mitigating the pandemic in social, economic, education, and health spheres. Therefore, we also strive to continue distributing assistance until the pandemic ends,” Shinta said. “Pertiwi is an organization that really cares for the social, economic, health, and legal protection of Indonesian women and their families.”
The donations towards national-and international-level active and retired athletes, coaches, and referees were symbolically accepted by former world champion boxer Ellyas Pical, former basketball player Ida Ambar, ex-track and field athlete Starlet, former national footballer Simson Rumahpasal, former national basketball referee Roy Bayumi, silver medalist archer in the 1988 Seoul Olympics Nurfitriyana Saiman, former volleyball athlete Olce Rumaropen, former water skier Baharuddin Aliyo, former athletics athlete Martha Kase, and former pencak silat athlete Syahbudin.
Former hitter of the Indonesian national volleyball team Loudry Maspaitella represents legacy national athletes in addressing the participants of the event and in thanking Pertiwi Indonesia and RAB. As a staff member of a national bank after retiring as a sportsman, Loudry is very much aware of just how bad the pandemic is affecting the economy, especially for former athletes. (rp)