Donation beefs up KONI's Olympic training fund<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fast food firm McDonald's Indonesia has pledged
\nRp 1 billion (US$137,000) toward the National Sports Council's
\n(KONI) training of athletes for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney
\nin September.<\/p>\n
KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar signed a memorandum of
\nunderstanding with McDonald's Indonesia president director
\nBambang N. Rachmadi at the latter's Sarinah outlet in Central
\nJakarta on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Bambang said in his speech that the donation, the bulk of
\nwhich is expected to be derived from a portion of profits, was
\nhis initiative although McDonald's Corp. is the official
\nrestaurant for the quadrennial event which begins on Sept. 15 and
\nends on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
\"We will save Rp 100 from each transaction in our 70 outlets
\nnationwide starting today until August. It is purely a case of
\ngiving away some of our profit because we aren't increasing the
\nprice of food items,\" said Bambang, who is also chairman of the
\nIndonesian Chess Association (Percasi).<\/p>\n
The launch of the sponsorship drive coincided with the ninth
\nanniversary of the establishment of the franchise in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Bambang ensured a contribution of Rp 1 billion regardless of
\nfunds accumulated from sales.<\/p>\n
\"I guarantee that in August KONI will receive a check of Rp 1
\nbillion from McDonald's Indonesia,\" Bambang said to the applause
\nof KONI officials.<\/p>\n
KONI needs Rp 6.9 billion to prepare athletes to compete in
\nthe Olympics. So far, it only has a donation of Rp 2 billion from
\nthe Gelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS) and Rp 500 million
\nsurplus from last year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games fund.<\/p>\n
The fund-raising program will be audited by public auditor
\nErnst & Young and KONI's internal auditor.<\/p>\n
\"The auditing mechanism will not be complicated because each
\nmonth we will submit transaction counts from our outlets to be
\nverified by Ernst & Young, KONI's internal auditor and each store
\nmanager,\" Bambang said.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo expressed hope that businesspeople would follow
\nBambang's example in helping sports development in the country.<\/p>\n
\"After today's signing, KONI will continue to approach
\nbusinesspeople to enter into business with us. Maybe we will
\ninvite them to have lunch and discuss the possibility of working
\ntogether to raise funds,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We are still negotiating with Kompas daily and ABN-Amro
\nbank.\"<\/p>\n
Wismoyo told athletes not to disappoint sponsors which have
\nhelped them by donating part of their profits.<\/p>\n
\"I hope athletes can learn something from this. What you will
\nfight for in the Olympics is because of the public's
\nparticipation in the fund-raising program.\"<\/p>\n
KONI's official in charge of the business and sports industry,
\nFritz E. Simanjuntak, said the McDonald's logo would be worn on
\nthe team's uniforms and shirts.<\/p>\n
\"They will also be involved in McDonald's promotions as stated
\nin the memorandum of understanding,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fritz said the company would donate any amount of funds in
\nexcess of Rp 1 billion.<\/p>\n
The signing ceremony was attended by athletes in training for
\nthe Olympics, former athletes and officials from various sports
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
McDonald's Indonesia will also send a young man and young
\nwomen, aged between 16 and 18, to join the International Youth
\nCamp in Sydney from Sept. 12 to Oct. 4. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/donation-beefs-up-konis-olympic-training-fund-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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