KONI requires Rp 3 billion from businessmen<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The national sports governing body (KONI) has
\nasked businessmen to cover the Rp 3 billion (US$1.4 million)
\ndeficit in its budget for Indonesian Asian Games teams'
\npreparations.<\/p>\n
KONI executive chairman Soeweno said yesterday that two top
\nofficials of the national sports body, Soesilo Soedarman and
\nMohammad \"Bob\" Hasan, were assigned early this year to collect
\nthe funds from national businessmen. However, KONI
\nrepresentatives have said that they have yet to hear from them.<\/p>\n
Soesilo is also the Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs, while Bob is a renowned timber tycoon.<\/p>\n
\"We are in desperate need of huge amounts of money to fund our
\nathletes' daily training sessions as well as their overseas
\nstays,\" Soeweno said.<\/p>\n
The athletes' preparations and their daily expenses during the
\nOct. 2-16 Asiad will cost KONI a total of Rp 6.5 billion ($3.04
\nmillion). KONI is working under the assumption that the
\nIndonesian contingent will be made up of 150 athletes making up
\n15 teams.<\/p>\n
KONI has reserved Rp 2.5 billion ($1.16 million) granted by
\nthe organizers of controversial lottery SDSB to finance national
\nathletes' participation in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, the
\nSoutheast Asian Games in Singapore last year and the 13th
\nNational Games last October.<\/p>\n
The government, through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and
\nSports, has also promised to donate KONI Rp 1 billion ($468,000).
\nSoeweno said the government aid will be disbursed this week.<\/p>\n
\"The lack of funds, however, will not force us to drop
\nsportsmen and women from a certain event,\" Soeweno said.
\n\"Performance is the only standard to measure whether an
\nIndonesian athlete will take part in an event,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Several sport organizations, including those of tennis, boxing
\nand badminton, do not depend on KONI aid to run their training
\nprograms and try-outs, according to Soeweno.<\/p>\n
There will be 34 events competed in the 12th Asian Games which
\nwill be held in a non-capital city for the first time. Indonesia
\nis hoping for a sixth place finish despite the daunting challenge
\nof five ex-Soviet Union republics which will make their debut in
\nthe quadrennial event.<\/p>\n
The national training camps for the region's biggest sports
\nmeet kicked off in November last year. The athletes will be
\nsorted out by Sept. 2, the deadline for Asian Games participants
\nto send the lists of their athletes' names.<\/p>\n
Soeweno refused to comment on the chance of a particular event
\nmaking it onto Indonesia's squad. \"Badminton is the only one we
\ndefinitely want to take part in,\" Soeweno cited KONI chairman
\nSoerono.<\/p>\n
Soerono had earlier said that badminton would spur Indonesia's
\ncampaign of bagging eight golds to finish sixth in the Games.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, fielding 138 athletes, was seated at the seventh
\nplace behind Pakistan with four golds, a silver and seven bronzes
\nin the 1990 Games in Beijing. The host team came through as the
\nrunaway leader, winning a haul of 183 golds, 107 silvers and 51
\nbronzes. (amd)<\/p>",
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