Asiad contingent still short of cash

Asiad contingent still short of cash

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Asian Games contingent organizers
expressed relief yesterday on hearing about the team's free
flight to Thailand, but doubted they had enough money to cover
other expenses.

The deputy head of the National Sports Council's athletes
development body, Muhammad Hindarto, said yesterday that the free
flight on a military cargo aircraft would reduce the
transportation expenses from US$523,000 to only $75,000.

"We greatly appreciate the government's help which is very
meaningful now that we are gearing up for the Asian Games amid
financial shortages," he said.

"But unfortunately there are still many more financial matters
to solve," he added.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono said
Tuesday that Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Commander Gen.
Wiranto had agreed to provide an Air Force Hercules cargo
aircraft to transport 200 Indonesian athletes and officials to
and from Bangkok for the Asiad in December.

Agung also promised to seek Minister of Finance Fuad
Bawazier's approval to exempt the Indonesian contingent from
paying departure tax. The government imposes a Rp 1 million tax
on all residents leaving the country by air.

Hindarto said that the plane would also carry sports equipment
along with the estimated 159 athletes who will be competing in 21
events,

In addition to transportation expenses are pocket money and
accommodation expenses for both athletes and officials. These are
expected to total almost $330,000, according to Hindarto.

"We cannot afford to provide the daily expenses now because we
are using all our money to finance the ongoing training
programs," he said.

Hindarto said half of the training expenses budget would be
covered by sports bodies whose athletes are now being groomed for
the Asiad.

The sports council has announced that the 13th Asian Games
will cost Indonesia at least Rp 15 billion. The government has
allocated Rp 3 billion from the state budget to help the national
team prepare for the quadrennial event. (emf)