60% of the Games budget in hand

JAKARTA (JP): The 19th SEA Games organizing committee has now received 60 percent of the funds it was allocated by the SEA Games consortium to organize the biennial event in October.

Organizing committee deputy chairman Arie Soedewo said Thursday that the committee was still waiting for the remaining 40 percent.

"The total budget for the Jakarta Games was Rp 105 billion. This will not change despite the fluctuation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar," Arie said in a hearing with House Commission IX for religion, education, and sports Thursday.

Arie said the committee had also received 72 percent of the training budget.

On venue renovation, Arie said that many of the sport events would have to adapt themselves to the conditions of the venues.

"For instance, hockey athletes will have to adapt to the condition of the fields," he said.

To meet the requirements set by the world field hockey governing body, the organizers were asked to build a new synthetic hockey field, which is nearly finished.

Arie said the venues that were being renovated were 80 percent finished.

"We are optimistic that all the venues will be ready for the SEA Games."

Arie also hinted that most of the funds were used as efficiently as possible.

"We have saved Rp 500 million on the cost of transporting the SEA Games torch which will be relayed to Jakarta from Borobudur temple."

Meanwhile, national and SEA Games soccer team assistant coach Parlin Siagian has resigned following differences with head coach Henk Wullem on handling the team.

Parlin submitted his resignation Wednesday to team manager Andre Amin. Parlin returned to Medan Thursday.

"I have received Parlin's resignation and there is nothing I can do since his resignation was due to differences with the national team coach," Andre said.

National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismundar said in Bandung that he regretted Parlin's resignation, and has called for the national team to be dismissed.

"If there is no good communication between the coach and his assistants then it is better that the national team be dismissed and another team formed," Antara quoted Wismoyo as saying Thursday.

Wismoyo was in Bandung to watch a trial match between the SEA Games soccer team and an unknown West Java team. The national team lost 1-2 to the West Java team.

Wismoyo has also watched athletics, squash and cycling training sessions around Bandung.

On the SEA Games soccer team, Wismoyo said that he had not noticed any teamwork among the players, or the coach, assistant coach and team manager.

"How can we make a good national team if there is no teamwork on the team. I have told the coach and the team manager to create good teamwork," Wismoyo said. (lnt)