KONI to submit SEA Games account soon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo
\nArismunandar said yesterday he would be accounting for the use of
\nRp 18 million (US$7.8 million) by the Indonesian contingent for
\nthe 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, next
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
The use of the SEA Games fund has become a somewhat thorny
\nissue for Wismoyo after Indonesia lost its overall SEA Games
\ntitle to Thailand, because almost all of the money came from the
\ncountry's top business circles.<\/p>\n
\"Next month I will summon all the donators and report to them
\nwhy we, despite the huge financial support we got, still could
\nnot make it,\" Wismoyo told reporters at the Hotel Indonesia
\nyesterday, where he was opening the chess duel meet pitting
\nIndonesian grandmaster Utut Adianto against former world
\nchallenger Nigel Short of England.<\/p>\n
Host Thailand wound up the Games with a belting medals
\ncollection of 157 golds, more than twice Indonesia's 77. It was
\nIndonesia's second defeat, and the worst ever, to Thailand after
\nits 1985 defeat in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Just a few months after taking KONI's top job in January,
\nformer Army Chief of Staff Wismoyo scrambled to rake up money
\nneeded to fund the national sports development. Winning the 18th
\nSEA Games was the prime target KONI wanted to fulfill this year.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo received financial aid commitment from 50 business
\ntycoons in March. The business heavyweights disbursed aid for the
\nSEA Games. The funds were used to finance the national team's
\npreparations, including the overseas stints.<\/p>\n
The government was a minor contributor to the SEA Games
\nproject with just Rp 750 million.<\/p>\n
Sports funds<\/p>\n
As KONI might ponder how to secure funds to finance its money-
\nhungry programs, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on
\nTuesday introduced a new fund-raising scheme called Jaspora.<\/p>\n
It appeals to ad agencies to donate to the ministry 3 to 5
\npercent of the 20 to 40 percent discount they receive from the
\nmedia, which they normally return to the advertiser as they
\nalready earn the agency fees of 15 to 18 percent.<\/p>\n
Statistics show that the money spent on advertisements and
\npromotions in Indonesia last year reached Rp 2.28 trillion ($9.8
\nbillion). Three to five percent of it would yield Rp 68.4 billion
\nto Rp 114 billion annually -- enough to fulfill the financial
\ndemands for the country's sports development which KONI estimated
\nat Rp 300 billion annually.<\/p>\n
According to the ministry, this scheme meets all the
\nministry's fund-raising criteria.<\/p>\n
Unlike the defunct state lottery SDSB, which used to finance
\nKONI's sports programs and the sending of Indonesian sports teams
\nabroad, it has nothing to do with lucky draws. The new sport
\nfunding scheme is not aimed at the middle to low-income community
\nand the money is not directly drawn from the community.<\/p>\n
What's more, it does not disturb the state budget, has found
\nfavor with the Indonesian Council of Ulemas and is likely to get
\napproval from the House of Representatives. President Soeharto is
\neven scheduled to launch it in April.<\/p>\n
Hence, the ministry has turned the procedure into a decree.
\nThe decree appoints the ministry's foundation for the development
\nof youth and sports.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo said yesterday he was not well informed about Jaspora
\nbut welcomed it: \"I believe the government will do its best to
\nhelp furthering sports in our country. I fully support the move.\"
\n(arf)<\/p>",
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