KONI upbeat despite its lack of funds for SEAG<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) deputy
\nchairman Arie Sudewo expressed optimism that the training program
\nfor the 2001 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) would continue despite
\nof shortage in funds.<\/p>\n
KONI needs more than Rp 77 billion (US$8 million) for the
\ntraining program and is working hard to meet this requirement.<\/p>\n
Arie said the central government had yet to announce its
\ncommitment to support the training program, which are being
\nconducted in six provinces.<\/p>\n
\"We never had a deposit of funds for the training program
\nsince the monetary crisis. The training preparations are done
\nsimultaneously with fund-raising efforts,\" Arie told reporters on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
\"But we have managed to finish the training in the past
\nbecause there have always been unexpected revenue. That's why I'm
\noptimistic KONI will get the necessary funds,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Arie said during the preparations for the Bandar Seri Begawan
\n1999 SEA Games and the Sydney 2000 Olympics, KONI had to work
\nhard to get the needed funds.<\/p>\n
\"KONI always got the additional funds just in time, before our
\nbudget ran dry, to continue with the training,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I would like to urge all athletes and coaches not to worry
\nabout the shortage in funds. They must concentrate on the
\ntraining,\" he added.<\/p>\n
However, Arie said KONI will reduce the number of athletes and
\nsports events, if necessary, after an evaluation.<\/p>\n
\"KONI will surely cut down the number of athletes because we
\nwill only be sending some 600 athletes to Kuala Lumpur. Currently
\nthere are some 1,000 athletes in our preparation center\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We will drop athletes who fail to show improvements. KONI may
\nalso drop an event or sport if its athletes are not performing
\nwell,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"There are also some athletes who fail to show up for
\ntraining,\" Arie said.<\/p>\n
Arie admitted KONI had to take this measure because it had
\nbeen cash-strapped since the country's monetary crisis.<\/p>\n
\"Before the crisis, KONI would have had secured a significant
\namount of money before the preparation stage started.\"<\/p>\n
When asked about its target in SEAG, Arie said KONI had to
\nwait for the competition phase, starting in May, where the
\nathletes would go on overseas tournaments to gauge their
\nabilities.<\/p>\n
\"To be realistic, it will be tough for Indonesia. In the 1999
\nSEA Games, we only finished third after Thailand and Malaysia,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"In Sydney, our athletes performed poorly compared to those
\nfrom Philippines and Thailand,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Arie also revealed that KONI representatives had just met with
\nofficials from the Ministry of National Education, the National
\nDevelopment Planning Board and the finance ministry's Directorate
\nGeneral for Budget.<\/p>\n
\"The meeting was to review KONI's budget for the SEA Games.
\nThe officials are still studying our budget to decide the exact
\namount of money still needed by KONI,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But I can't say when they will come up with the numbers. It
\ntakes time.\" (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/koni-upbeat-despite-its-lack-of-funds-for-seag-1447893297",
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