19th SEA Games organizer faces budgetary problems
JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta SEA Games Organizing Committee is facing financial problems to stage the 19th Games here in October next year.
Rifda Ammarina, the committee spokeswoman, said yesterday that five of committee's 10 divisions have submitted their budget planning but the amount has already reached Rp 70 billion (US$29.5 million).
The total budget amount of Rp 70 billion is the current planned budget for organizing the biennial Games. Half of this amount is the planned budget to stage the event, with the other half being the total planned budget to groom the athletes.
"The overcalculation is merely because there is an overlapping in some of the divisions," she said.
The five divisions which have presented their budget plans are competition, facilities, transportation, protocol and ceremony.
Five other divisions and two bureaus -- municipal, logistic, promotion, security, information and communication, planning and budgeting -- were scheduled to disclose their budget plans late yesterday evening.
"The amount is our rough calculation, it's our maximum estimation," Rifda said.
The transportation, secretariat and protocol sections consume more cash than other sections.
Citing an example, Rifda said that each division proposed its own need for transportation, while the transportation division has covered its budget for all divisions.
"That's why we can reduce the overlapping budgets," she said.
Rifda said that the committee plans to cooperate with city administrations in Java and Bali to finance some traditional attractions due to be staged during the 10-day Games.
Venue
"There is a plan to change the water skiing venue from Sunter Lake, North Jakarta, to Bedugul Lake, Bali. We'll ask the local administration to finance half of the event," she said.
Water pollution in the Sunter Lake has forced the committee to change the venue.
The National Sports Council's chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, who is also president of the committee, said that the cooperation is expected to reduce the overestimated budget.
Rifda said that the committee plans to feature the Games mascot, Hanoman (white-furred half-monkey knight), in the opening ceremony. Hanoman will fly across the stadium using wires and other special equipment.
The committee also plans to present a flashback segment of the previous 18 Games.
For the closing ceremony, the organizers will begin with one of the Games final's matches, either soccer or a number of track and field final events, before continuing with a marching band.
Separately, national coach Pujawati said that Indonesia's judokas are out to grab nine golds, as they did in the last Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Coach
"So far, Indonesia is still the best among the Southeast Asian countries," she said.
In an effort to increase national judokas' performances, the Indonesian Judo Association has hired a Japanese coach, who is due to arrive in January.
The 16 best athletes will undergo an overseas stint in China, South Korea and China Taipei from June to August next year.
"Our main problem is funding. Each athlete only receives Rp 3 million for the three-month stint," she complained.
The association's plan is to send Kresna Bayu, Pujiantoro and Eldy Gan to take part in the Jigorokano Cup, from Nov. 26 to Nov. 28, in Japan. National women's judokas Ira Purnama Sari, Aprilia Marzuki and Maya Fransiska are due to participate in the Fukuoka Cup on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9, also in Japan. (yan)