Indonesian Olympic team secures fund<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI)
\nWismoyo Arismunadar retracted on Thursday his concern over fund
\nscarcity which has plagued Indonesia's preparations for the
\nOlympic Games in September.<\/p>\n
\"There are no more obstacles left concerning the fund for the
\n2000 Olympics,\" Wismoyo announced here during his visit to the
\ntraining center for the Paralympic Games, which will follow the
\nSummer Games in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo said KONI had secured the Rp 6 billion Indonesia
\nrequired to send its athletes to the world's largest sports
\nevent, which are to be held for only the second time on
\nAustralian soil.<\/p>\n
The statement came after weeks of speculation that KONI could
\nnot afford to provide the funds, and thus could not fulfill
\nIndonesia's preparations for the Olympics.<\/p>\n
Many had earlier expressed fear of a financial shortage
\nIndonesia might face since its economy had not recovered. No
\nsports officials were able to confirm whether the fund-raising
\nprogram for the Olympics was a success.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo further said KONI had also secured a commitment from
\nseveral companies wishing to provide cash bonuses for Indonesian
\nathletes who win medals at the Olympics.<\/p>\n
\"There have been some sponsors and companies ready to give
\ncomplimentary bonuses and honors to the medal winners,\" Wismoyo
\nsaid, adding that sports equipment producer Yonex, electronic
\ngiant Samsung and energy drink producer Extra Joss were the
\ncompanies which promised to provide the rewards.<\/p>\n
However, he refused to reveal the amounts of the cash bonuses
\nto be given to winning athletes.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't gone that far, but it is certain that we will
\nprovide incentives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The men's doubles badminton team of Ricky Subagja and Rexy
\nMainaky shared Rp 500 million in cash after winning Indonesia its
\nsole gold medal in the previous Olympics in 1996.<\/p>\n
Indonesia again will rely on its badminton players to win
\nmedals in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo was more frank on the country's representatives to the
\nParalympic Games, the major sports event for the disabled. He
\npromised Rp 20 million in cash bonuses for each gold medalist.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will feature 45 athletes in the Paralympics, to be
\nheld a week after the Olympics. Head of the national training
\ncenter for the Paralympics, Syamsul Masri, said Indonesia was
\neying two golds from men's weightlifter Harsono of Palembang and
\nmen's air rifle specialist Ongko Suratin of Medan.<\/p>\n
Syamsul told Wismoyo that his team needs Rp 145 million more
\nto finance the training session and daily needs of athletes
\nduring their stay in Sydney. KONI and the government have
\ndisbursed Rp 105 million and Rp 350 million respectively for the
\nnational Paralympic team. (25)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-olympic-team-secures-fund-1447893297",
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