KONI asks BPGS for Rp 5b for Olympics<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has requested
\nthe Gelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS) for a total budget of
\nRp 5 billion (US$715,000) to finance the national contingent for
\nthe 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.<\/p>\n
KONI secretary-general Rudolf S Warouw said on Friday evening
\nthat BPGS had not yet responded to the request. However, KONI
\nsaid they expected the budget to be disbursed soon in order to
\nfinance the centralized training program for the Olympics.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela
\npromised he would stage a meeting with BPGS to fulfill KONI's
\nrequest.<\/p>\n
\"The government will help out but it depends on our budget.
\nHowever, the government has an obligation to spare some funds
\nearned by taxpayers to finance the sports society's needs,\" said
\nMahadi, who is also a deputy chairman of BPGS, after a meeting
\nwith KONI officials.<\/p>\n
KONI has requested Rp 6.9 billion from the National
\nDevelopment Planning Board (Bappenas) to finance its Olympics
\npreparation. Since Bappenas had not yet responded, KONI turned to
\nBPGS asking for Rp 5 billion.<\/p>\n
KONI has saved Rp 800 million to finance the training programs
\nprior to the Olympics qualification, which will end in April
\n2000.<\/p>\n
\"KONI will send about 40 athletes, some coaches and officials.
\nThe Rp 5 billion is enough to finance our needs from the
\npreparation to the implementation,\" Warouw said.<\/p>\n
Despite the funds, KONI also asked Sinambela to urge the
\ngovernment to help the National Games (PON) Organizing Committee
\nwhich was still searching for money to cover its deficit of Rp 10
\nbillion to stage the quadrennial event in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
During his visit to KONI, Sinambela also listened to the
\nexplanation of the Golden Garuda project, which is the
\npreparation for the 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur
\nand the 2000 Olympics.<\/p>\n
Sinambela said the project was excellent as it included
\nstarting the athletes' development from a young age.<\/p>\n
\"It's really good and realistic. The main problem is how to
\nget funds, especially since KONI has priorities on some sports,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He also said sports development did not need to be a one-gate
\npolicy, but it needed good cooperation from KONI, the office of
\nthe state minister of youth affairs and sports, the national
\neducation ministry and other parties.<\/p>\n
KONI vice chairman Indra Djati Sidi said sports development in
\nthe future would rely on each province's financial condition
\nwhile the government would only make policies and programs.<\/p>\n
Indra said the Golden Garuda project had yet to run smoothly
\nas the government had not yet issued a presidential decree to
\nsupport it. (yan)<\/p>",
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