19th SEA Games organizer faces budgetary problems<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta SEA Games Organizing Committee is
\nfacing financial problems to stage the 19th Games here in October
\nnext year.<\/p>\n
Rifda Ammarina, the committee spokeswoman, said yesterday that
\nfive of committee's 10 divisions have submitted their budget
\nplanning but the amount has already reached Rp 70 billion
\n(US$29.5 million).<\/p>\n
The total budget amount of Rp 70 billion is the current
\nplanned budget for organizing the biennial Games. Half of this
\namount is the planned budget to stage the event, with the other
\nhalf being the total planned budget to groom the athletes.<\/p>\n
\"The overcalculation is merely because there is an overlapping
\nin some of the divisions,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The five divisions which have presented their budget plans are
\ncompetition, facilities, transportation, protocol and ceremony.<\/p>\n
Five other divisions and two bureaus -- municipal, logistic,
\npromotion, security, information and communication, planning and
\nbudgeting -- were scheduled to disclose their budget plans late
\nyesterday evening.<\/p>\n
\"The amount is our rough calculation, it's our maximum
\nestimation,\" Rifda said.<\/p>\n
The transportation, secretariat and protocol sections consume
\nmore cash than other sections.<\/p>\n
Citing an example, Rifda said that each division proposed its
\nown need for transportation, while the transportation division
\nhas covered its budget for all divisions.<\/p>\n
\"That's why we can reduce the overlapping budgets,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Rifda said that the committee plans to cooperate with city
\nadministrations in Java and Bali to finance some traditional
\nattractions due to be staged during the 10-day Games.<\/p>\n
Venue<\/p>\n
\"There is a plan to change the water skiing venue from Sunter
\nLake, North Jakarta, to Bedugul Lake, Bali. We'll ask the local
\nadministration to finance half of the event,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Water pollution in the Sunter Lake has forced the committee to
\nchange the venue.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council's chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar,
\nwho is also president of the committee, said that the cooperation
\nis expected to reduce the overestimated budget.<\/p>\n
Rifda said that the committee plans to feature the Games
\nmascot, Hanoman (white-furred half-monkey knight), in the opening
\nceremony. Hanoman will fly across the stadium using wires and
\nother special equipment.<\/p>\n
The committee also plans to present a flashback segment of the
\nprevious 18 Games.<\/p>\n
For the closing ceremony, the organizers will begin with one
\nof the Games final's matches, either soccer or a number of track
\nand field final events, before continuing with a marching band.<\/p>\n
Separately, national coach Pujawati said that Indonesia's
\njudokas are out to grab nine golds, as they did in the last Games
\nin Chiang Mai, Thailand.<\/p>\n
Coach<\/p>\n
\"So far, Indonesia is still the best among the Southeast Asian
\ncountries,\" she said.<\/p>\n
In an effort to increase national judokas' performances, the
\nIndonesian Judo Association has hired a Japanese coach, who is
\ndue to arrive in January.<\/p>\n
The 16 best athletes will undergo an overseas stint in China,
\nSouth Korea and China Taipei from June to August next year.<\/p>\n
\"Our main problem is funding. Each athlete only receives Rp 3
\nmillion for the three-month stint,\" she complained.<\/p>\n
The association's plan is to send Kresna Bayu, Pujiantoro and
\nEldy Gan to take part in the Jigorokano Cup, from Nov. 26 to Nov.
\n28, in Japan. National women's judokas Ira Purnama Sari, Aprilia
\nMarzuki and Maya Fransiska are due to participate in the Fukuoka
\nCup on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9, also in Japan. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/19th-sea-games-organizer-faces-budgetary-problems-1447893297",
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