Donation sees KONI meet Asian budget<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A business association has pledged Rp 2 billion
\n(US$175,000) out of Rp 5 billion the cash-strapped National
\nSports Council will need to fly the Indonesian contingent to the
\n13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December, council secretary-
\ngeneral Rudolf S. Warouw said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Warouw said the organization, whom he said had requested
\nanonymity, would meet council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar later
\nthis week to finalize the donation's details.<\/p>\n
"The association understands we're facing financial problems
\nin sending our contingent to the Asiad," Warouw said without
\nelaborating whether the business group promised the aid
\nvoluntarily or on the council's request.<\/p>\n
The council said earlier this year it would ask businesses to
\nhelp it meet its budget for the Asiad preparations.<\/p>\n
Warouw said he was optimistic the council would meet the
\ntransportation expenses after governors of provinces where Asiad-
\nbound athletes were raised had agreed to cover the air fares of
\ntheir respective athletes.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, the council official in charge of planning
\nand budgeting, Sudharno, said the council lacked Rp 2.5 billion
\nto fly the national team to Bangkok because the government could
\ncover only half of the transportation expenses.<\/p>\n
Sudharno said the government assistance was enough for 105
\nathletes and officials. He added the government had yet to
\ndisburse the fund.<\/p>\n
"If we cannot get more money, than we will pay the ticket
\nfares of athletes from top priority sports only," he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has selected 132 athletes to take part in 19 sports
\nat the Asiad. With the council expecting only 11 sports to win
\nIndonesia medals, eight events are rated second priority.<\/p>\n
The national flag carrier, Garuda Indonesia, has offered a
\nspecial return ticket price of $250 per seat. The Bangkok Asian
\nGames Organizing Committee has slashed $50 off the board and
\nlodging fees of $60 per athlete per day for all athletes during
\nthe quadrennial event, which takes place from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono urged
\nthe 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games underwriting consortium on
\nMonday to pay its debts to the government and other institutions
\nby the end of the year.<\/p>\n
The consortium, chaired by former president Soeharto's son
\nBambang Trihatmodjo, has still to return Rp 35 billion of the
\nreforestation fund it borrowed from the Ministry of Forestry and
\nPlantations, pay its Rp 1 billion debt to the Gelora Senayan
\nManagement Board and about Rp 9 billion to several hotels,
\nincluding the Hotel Atlet Century Park.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Senayan management board Yasidi Hambali has said
\nhe would donate the consortium's debt payment to the sports
\ncouncil.<\/p>\n
The consortium reported a Rp 68.1 billion deficit in staging
\nthe SEA Games last October. (yan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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