Minister blocks Senayan takeover<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung
\nLaksono rejected yesterday a request by the National Sports
\nCouncil to take over the Senayan sports complex for profit
\nreasons.<\/p>\n
Agung said the sports complex was not the right place to raise
\nfunds because it was built to help the country develop its
\nathletes.<\/p>\n
\"Many sports organizations have long complained about
\nexpensive rental rates of sports venues whenever they hold
\ncompetitions.<\/p>\n
\"The Senayan sports complex is one of the state's assets which
\nmust benefit national sports before anything else,\" Agung said.<\/p>\n
\"Whoever manages the complex should not restrict the use of
\nthe stadium to only once a month, while allowing outsiders to use
\nit for nonsporting activities,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Agung was commenting on the sports council's wish to take over
\nthe management of the complex from the government, saying it
\nneeded huge funds to finance sports development. The council
\ntargeted the sports complex after the government rejected its
\nplanned lottery.<\/p>\n
Council chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, said in the short run
\nthe organization needed funds to cover the national contingent's
\nexpenses for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.<\/p>\n
The managing director of the sports complex, Yasidi Hambali,
\nhas said either the council or the Office of the State Minister
\nof Youth Affairs and Sports deserved a share of the profit from
\nthe venues.<\/p>\n
He stressed, however, that the complex also included some
\nnonprofit-oriented venues.<\/p>\n
Agung said yesterday he had asked the chairman of the Senayan
\nManagement Board, Akbar Tandjung, to call a meeting to discuss
\nsteps which could allow the sports community to take full
\nadvantage of the venues.<\/p>\n
\"The members of the board have never met since it was
\nestablished in 1988,\" said Agung.<\/p>\n
A 1988 presidential decree stipulates that the minister\/state
\nsecretary is the ex-officio chairman of the board and the state
\nminister of housing and settlement the deputy chairman, with the
\nstate minister of youth affairs and sports, the minister of
\npublic works, the chairman of the National Sports Council, the
\nJakarta governor and the city military commander serving as ex-
\nofficio members.<\/p>\n
Agung said the board was also expected to draw up a renovation
\nplan for the 260-hectare sports complex.<\/p>\n
He said he was not certain whether the board would talk about
\nthe sports council's request for financial assistance to prepare
\nfor the Asian Games.<\/p>\n
The council has reported a Rp 1.8 billion (US$145) deficit
\nafter the government only allocated it Rp 5.2 billion from the
\nstate budget.<\/p>\n
Cash-strapped Indonesia plans to send a tiny team to the
\nAsiad. The council is expected to announce tomorrow the sports
\nIndonesia will compete in the games. (yan)<\/p>",
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