Businesses set up foundation to fund Sports Council
Businesses set up foundation to fund Sports Council
JAKARTA (JP): Eleven of Indonesia's business heavyweights
signed a historic agreement yesterday to set up a foundation to
collect funds to finance the country's sports activities.
The agreement, signed by Sudono Salim and Sudwikatmono, who
represented the group of conglomerates, says that the foundation
will provide the National Sports Council with ready-for-
disbursement funds.
The council lost its financial back-up following the end of
the national lottery in 1993 and since then has asked for help
from businesspeople to finance the sending of the national team
to various international sports events.
Spokesman of the council, Ishadi SK, told reporters yesterday
that the foundation, initiated by council chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar, will focus on developing potential athletes.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman was in
attendance at yesterday's ceremony, which also saw the council
give bonuses to Indonesian athletes who won medals in the 18th
Southeast Asian Games last December.
President Soeharto's daughter Siti Hediati Prabowo was named
chairperson of the foundation. Rahardi Ramelan, the council's
deputy chairman and vice chairman of the National Development
Planning Board, was appointed the patron.
Ishadi said that the council will set up a think-tank to draw
up the broad guidelines of policies to be carried out by the
foundation.
Hayono warmly welcomed the establishment of the foundation,
saying that it will overcome the nagging financial problems the
council has long been suffering from.
"The foundation is aimed at managing the financial affairs of
developing sports here," he added.
"I believe that from now on the sports development in the
country will go on smoothly," Hayono said.
Hayono suggested that officials of the council and all sports
organizations, the recipients of the funds, improve their
financial management skills.
"I hope them to improve their financial management in order
to administer the funds appropriately," he said.
The bonuses for SEA Games medalists were given by
"businesspeople who are concerned for the country's sports
development" to medal winners in 22 sports at the SEA Games in
the form of insurance. The athletes can only disburse 20 percent
of their bonuses every year.
Each gold medalist received Rp 25 million (US$10,900), silver
and bronze medalists received Rp 3 million and Rp 2 million
respectively.
Coaches whose athletes won gold medals were also awarded Rp 5
million each in the form of insurance.
Sudono, Sudwikatmono and Prajogo Pangestu received statues
from the council for their distinguished role in developing
national sports. (05)