Athletes leave apartment for modest lodgings
JAKARTA (JP): A financial shortfall has forced the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association to remove 23 athletes and five coaches from their apartments in the Senayan sports complex.
The association's secretary-general, B. Chaidir, told reporters yesterday that athletes and coaches were now staying in a modest dormitory in the nearby Madya Senayan Stadium.
"The economic crisis has forced us to set a strict budget. It is impossible for us to cut the budget for athletes' food expenses and stadium maintenance so we have opted to reduce expenditure in other areas, including housing," he said.
Chaidir said the association used to pay US$9,600 a month for six units in the Fairbanks Apartment complex.
It also used to spend about Rp 40 million (US$2837) each month on electricity, telephone and water bills. Monthly allowances for the athletes cost Rp 15 million and it pays each of its three local coaches Rp 2.3 million per month and its two Ukranian trainers $2,250 per month.
In addition to the above, the association spends Rp 23.6 million every month on food for its athletes.
Chaidir said the association would not extend the contracts of its two foreign coaches if their charges failed to make any progress in the near future. Both coaches contracts are due to come up for renewal in December.
Women's middle-distance walker Tersiana and male and female pole vaulters Nunung Jayadi and Hendarsin are among the athletes coached by the two.
Also yesterday Chaidir called on the National Sports Council to consider picking women's long-distance runner Ruwiyati for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.
Chaidir said the 20-year-old runner, currently undergoing medical treatment for a back injury, had a great chance of a medal in the Asiad marathon after her success in the Sheares Bridge and Army Half Marathon in Singapore early this month.
The women's marathon will be the first gold medal awarded in the Games.
Ruwiyati set her personal best of 2:34.29 in winning the 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, three years ago. The Asian record of 2:24.07 set by Wang Junxia of China in 1993 remains intact. (yan)