KONI urges quick budget provision<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council (KONI) has told legislators that
\nthe delayed disbursement of funds from the state budget for the
\n2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games contingent is preying on the
\nminds of athletes.<\/p>\n
KONI needs Rp 84 billion (US$8.8 million) for the preparation
\nof its SEA Games training camp and contingent expenses, with Rp
\n76.35 million designated from the state budget and Rp 7.6 billion
\nto be secured through donations.<\/p>\n
However, the revised state budget has yet to be approved by
\nthe House of Representatives. Another hearing has been scheduled
\nfor Monday.<\/p>\n
KONI has been forced to spend Rp 9.3 billion of its own money
\nto cover the budget shortfall.<\/p>\n
"So far, KONI can cover the daily expenses. But as athletes
\nhave heard that the funds from the state budget have yet to be
\ndisbursed, it's bound to affect their mental strength," KONI
\nsecretary-general Djohar Arifin Hussein said on Thursday after a
\nhearing with House Commission X on education, youth, sports,
\ntourism, art and culture.<\/p>\n
KONI plans to send 656 athletes to the 23rd SEA Games, to be
\nheld from Nov. 27-Dec. 5, with expectations for the team to at
\nleast retain its third place in the medal standings from the last
\nGames in Hanoi.<\/p>\n
The budget allocation for Hanoi was Rp 39 billion.<\/p>\n
"For such a big contingent, funding is always one of the key
\nfactors to succeed," he said.<\/p>\n
Of the total budget, the training program will take Rp 56.3
\nbillion while supporting expenses for the contingent requires Rp
\n27.7 billion.<\/p>\n
Expenses for the training program include monthly stipends,
\nsuch as for each athlete in the amount of Rp 1 million; local
\ncoaches (Rp 2 million each); foreign coaches (US$3,000 each);
\nmanagers (Rp 1.5 million each) and sports technicians (Rp 1
\nmillion each).<\/p>\n
There are also allocations for accommodation (Rp 80,000 per
\nday), daily expenses (Rp 150,000 per month) and tryouts (Rp 14.5
\nmillion per athlete).<\/p>\n
Expenses for the contingent in Manila will include the return
\nticket of $600 per person, accommodation of $40 per person per
\nday and a daily allowance of $60 per person per day.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, commission X head Heri Akhmadi promised to help in
\nthe disbursement of funds as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
He told KONI that it also must be transparent in explaining
\nthe use of the funds because they were provided by the people.<\/p>\n
The country will participate in 36 of the 41 sports featured
\nin Manila.<\/p>",
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