Donation beefs up KONI's Olympic training fund
Donation beefs up KONI's Olympic training fund
JAKARTA (JP): Fast food firm McDonald's Indonesia has pledged
Rp 1 billion (US$137,000) toward the National Sports Council's
(KONI) training of athletes for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney
in September.
KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar signed a memorandum of
understanding with McDonald's Indonesia president director
Bambang N. Rachmadi at the latter's Sarinah outlet in Central
Jakarta on Tuesday.
Bambang said in his speech that the donation, the bulk of
which is expected to be derived from a portion of profits, was
his initiative although McDonald's Corp. is the official
restaurant for the quadrennial event which begins on Sept. 15 and
ends on Oct. 1.
"We will save Rp 100 from each transaction in our 70 outlets
nationwide starting today until August. It is purely a case of
giving away some of our profit because we aren't increasing the
price of food items," said Bambang, who is also chairman of the
Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi).
The launch of the sponsorship drive coincided with the ninth
anniversary of the establishment of the franchise in Indonesia.
Bambang ensured a contribution of Rp 1 billion regardless of
funds accumulated from sales.
"I guarantee that in August KONI will receive a check of Rp 1
billion from McDonald's Indonesia," Bambang said to the applause
of KONI officials.
KONI needs Rp 6.9 billion to prepare athletes to compete in
the Olympics. So far, it only has a donation of Rp 2 billion from
the Gelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS) and Rp 500 million
surplus from last year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games fund.
The fund-raising program will be audited by public auditor
Ernst & Young and KONI's internal auditor.
"The auditing mechanism will not be complicated because each
month we will submit transaction counts from our outlets to be
verified by Ernst & Young, KONI's internal auditor and each store
manager," Bambang said.
Wismoyo expressed hope that businesspeople would follow
Bambang's example in helping sports development in the country.
"After today's signing, KONI will continue to approach
businesspeople to enter into business with us. Maybe we will
invite them to have lunch and discuss the possibility of working
together to raise funds," he said.
"We are still negotiating with Kompas daily and ABN-Amro
bank."
Wismoyo told athletes not to disappoint sponsors which have
helped them by donating part of their profits.
"I hope athletes can learn something from this. What you will
fight for in the Olympics is because of the public's
participation in the fund-raising program."
KONI's official in charge of the business and sports industry,
Fritz E. Simanjuntak, said the McDonald's logo would be worn on
the team's uniforms and shirts.
"They will also be involved in McDonald's promotions as stated
in the memorandum of understanding," he said.
Fritz said the company would donate any amount of funds in
excess of Rp 1 billion.
The signing ceremony was attended by athletes in training for
the Olympics, former athletes and officials from various sports
organizations.
McDonald's Indonesia will also send a young man and young
women, aged between 16 and 18, to join the International Youth
Camp in Sydney from Sept. 12 to Oct. 4. (yan)