Jakarta to host 1997 SEA Games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia looks set to play host to the 19th
\nSoutheast Asian (SEA) Games in 1997 despite the heavy financial
\nburden.<\/p>\n
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said after a
\nmeeting with President Soeharto on Friday that Indonesia could
\nnot refuse to hold the 1997 Games after both Vietnam and Brunei
\nannounced they were not prepared to stage the regional sporting
\nmeet.<\/p>\n
\"Politically it's difficult for us to refuse the offer since
\nwe have been dubbed a sport powerhouse in the region,\" Hayono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The biennial event has been touring the six Southeast Asian
\ncountries in alphabetical order since 1977. Vietnam and Brunei
\nwere originally scheduled to host the 19th and 20th Games after
\nthis year's meet in Chiang Mai, Thailand.<\/p>\n
Hayono said that President Soeharto asked him to carefully
\ncatalog any constraints, noting that Indonesia will conduct its
\ngeneral election in the same year. \"The President expects that
\nany preparations for the Games will not play havoc with the
\nelection,\" said Hayono.<\/p>\n
Hayono indicated that the SEA Games would take place several
\nmonths after the May election. \"I assume we can make it between
\nSeptember and December,\" Hayono said.<\/p>\n
He rejected the idea of moving the event outside the capital,
\nas Thailand has done, insisting that only Jakarta is able to
\nprovide the sports facilities and accommodate the many athletes.<\/p>\n
The minister is worried about the financial burden, since
\nJakarta is also preparing for the 1996 National Games.<\/p>\n
\"We will have to collect Rp 28 billion (US$12.7 million) for
\nthe SEA Games,\" Hayono said.<\/p>\n
He added that he would include the tentative budget for the
\nSEA Games in his ministry's proposal for 1996\/97 annual budget
\nwhich is slated to be submitted to the National Development
\nPlanning Board.<\/p>\n
\"We are reluctant to beg for more financial aid from
\nbusinesses,\" he said. A group of businesspeople handed over Rp 18
\nbillion (US$8.18 million) to sponsor the national team to compete
\nin the 18th Games in Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n
Indonesia staged the Games twice, in 1979 and 1987 in Jakarta,
\nsince its participation in the sporting event in 1977.<\/p>\n
Hayono also said that the government will give private
\ncompanies the chance to organize the SEA Games, something that
\nhas not been done before. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-to-host-1997-sea-games-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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