RI Asiad team to fly on military cargo plane<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government announced the first part of its
\npackage to help the Asian Games team yesterday when it said the
\nAir Force had promised to transport the country's 200-member
\ncontingent to Thailand on a Hercules military cargo aircraft.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono said
\nthe Air Force would fly the Indonesian team to Bangkok for free.<\/p>\n
\"It will be tiring, but I hope it will not prevent our
\nathletes from giving their best in the Games,\" Agung said after a
\nmeeting with National Sports Council Chairman Wismoyo
\nArismunandar and a group of top sports officials.<\/p>\n
Agung said the free flight was confirmed by Minister of
\nDefense\/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto in a meeting earlier
\nyesterday. Further technical details will be discussed in due
\ncourse between the staff of the two ministers.<\/p>\n
\"Now that we have settled the transportation expenses, we can
\nnegotiate other possible government assistance,\" Agung said.<\/p>\n
He said he would ask Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier to
\nreduce the departure tax to be imposed on Indonesian athletes and
\nofficials leaving for Bangkok.<\/p>\n
A government regulation issued early last month quadrupled the
\ndeparture tax imposed on Indonesians going abroad by air to Rp 1
\nmillion (US$110).<\/p>\n
\"I will be glad if the minister of finance exempts our
\nathletes and officials from paying that amount because they will
\ndon the national colors,\" Agung said.<\/p>\n
He also said that the National Development Planning Board had
\nagreed to take Rp 3 billion from the state budget to help the
\nnational sports council finance all preparations for the Asian
\nGames in Bangkok in December.<\/p>\n
The council had previously demanded Rp 15 billion, but the
\nboard said it could not afford to provide that amount.<\/p>\n
Agung suggested that the council introduce efficiencies and
\navoid unnecessary expenditure amid the present financial
\nadversity, including not giving bonuses to medal-winning
\nathletes.<\/p>\n
\"Bonuses of course will motivate athletes to do their best. I
\nwill let sports bodies decide their policies on this matter, but
\nI expect their wisdom (to prevail),\" he said.<\/p>\n
He warned that bonus promises could cause serious problems for
\nthe sports bodies in such a crisis.<\/p>\n
\"I believe our athletes are not only seeking bonuses or gifts,
\nbut want to see fair play and sportsmanship,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Whopping bonuses poured in for athletes who won medals and
\nbroke records in the Southeast Asian Games here last year.<\/p>\n
On the size of the Indonesian team for the upcoming Asiad,
\nAgung said that only potential medal winners would deserve places
\nin the squad.<\/p>\n
\"In principle, the number of athletes and the events we will
\ntake part in are always subject to change, based on the athletes'
\nperformances during training,\" Agung said. (emf)<\/p>",
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