Advertising agencies to help national sports

Advertising agencies to help national sports

JAKARTA (JP): The government's effort to help the fund- beleaguered national sports got a positive answer from the Indonesian Advertising Agencies Association (P3I), which agreed to help raise money for sports.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Hayono Isman, said in a hearing with the House of Representatives' commission for sport, education, culture and religion affairs here yesterday, that the association has set up a task force to raise the fund for sports.

"I think we'd better have a fixed mechanism, because sports need a lot of money," Hayono said.

"I'm worried because the task force is just a temporary donor which can't settle endemic financial problems," he added.

The minister had proposed a fund raising program called Jaspora, which involves the advertising agencies. The proposal was made public on Dec. 19 last year.

Jaspora will be taken from advertising discounts which are common with big companies. The agencies will return about three to five percent of discounts they receive to the Minister's office for sport development.

A number of members of the commission threw their weight behind the program, saying that it doesn't involve gambling.

"I know of no other fund raising schemes but Jaspora now," said Jacub Silondae from the Golkar faction, adding that the ministry should make it happen as soon as possible.

At the end of the hearing, the commission concluded that the minister should follow up the agreement between the Minister's office and association.

"I hope that in the future, the participation of private sectors in funding sports activities will increase," Hayono said.

He said that the 19th Southeast Asian Games here next year will serve as the first test of how the government deals with the partnership.

Ismael Hasan, chairman of the commission, said that he plans to invite the association to attend a hearing with the House of Representatives in two weeks time. (05)