Sports council calls for talk on lottery plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council invited the
\nIndonesian Consumers Foundation and media representatives
\nyesterday to a talk on Thursday on its planned lottery to raise
\nfunds for sports.<\/p>\n
Council secretary-general Rudolf Warouw said the council's
\nexecutives hoped to swap ideas with their guests during the
\nmeeting, the first official public presentation of the proposal
\nsince its introduction almost two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
"We will explain everything about the fund-raising proposal,
\nwhile asking for advice on ways to improve it," Warouw said.<\/p>\n
The council plans to consult other social organizations
\nfollowing Thursday's meeting since it believed the public has yet
\nto become well informed about the proposal.<\/p>\n
"It's better for the public to give us advice, instead of
\nhasty condemnations. We expect fairer judgment on the proposal,
\nbecause basically each of us agrees that national sports need
\nhuge funds," Warouw said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
The fund-raising plan has sparked controversy centered on
\nfears that it would encourage gambling as has happened in the
\npast. Under the proposal, the council would target Rp 100 billion
\n(US$7 million) of annual revenue from coupons which would be sold
\nfor Rp 5,000 each.<\/p>\n
Half of the income would be used to provide prizes, and only
\n30 percent would go to finance sports development. The remaining
\n20 percent would be split between the council and the Ministry of
\nSocial Services, which is authorized to issue the license for the
\nlottery.<\/p>\n
Warouw said that even though the proposal had received
\ngovernment approval, it would take it between three and six
\nmonths before it could begin.<\/p>\n
"We have to arrange the revenue sharing among the sports
\norganizations under the council's auspices," he said, adding that
\nsports bodies which sanction regular competitions deserve a
\ngreater portion than others.<\/p>\n
He promised that funds raised from the lottery would be
\nmanaged transparently and professionally. An American consultant
\nis expected to be involved in the program.<\/p>\n
In Dili, State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung
\nLaksono said the government deemed the lottery a realistic means
\nto raise funds for sports development, but insisted that it was
\nnot the only way.<\/p>\n
"No one knows whether the program will yield profits because
\nit is a philanthropic, not mandatory, scheme," Agung told
\nreporters during his visit to the East Timor capital.<\/p>\n
"This program requires millions of rupiah in investment, while
\nthe organizers must ensure lottery winners will earn the prizes
\nas promised," he added.<\/p>\n
Buyers will win the prizes if their coupons contain at least
\nthree identical sports logos.<\/p>\n
Agung said that public participation in financing national
\nsports was a must because the government alone could not afford
\nto provide such a huge amount of money for the sports council.<\/p>\n
"Let's not dream of helping our athletes reach great heights
\nin international forums without having to spend a lot of money,"
\nAgung said. (amd)<\/p>",
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