Games committee collects Rp2.3b
Games committee collects Rp2.3b
JAKARTA (JP): The Organizing Committee of the 14th National Games collected another Rp 2.35 billion (US$1 million) from national businesses during a gala dinner on Monday.
The committee has now raised Rp 9.7 billion through its fund raising program, which was launched on Nov. 1. The committee raked in Rp 7.35 billion on its first day.
Jakarta governor Surjadi Soedirdja said in his speech that greater public participation in the Games will be needed if the sporting extravaganza is to be a successful national event.
"All people should share the burden with the government in organizing the Games," said Surjadi, who also chairs the committee.
The quadrennial event will be held in September next year at a cost of Rp 23.5 billion. The figure is Rp 5 billion higher than the total budget for the previous Games in 1993.
The National Sports Council decided to move the Games up a year earlier than scheduled due to the general elections in 1997. The capital will also play host to the 19th Southeast Asian Games in 1997.
Jakarta authorities have committed Rp 11 billion to the 14th Games, from double annual budgets of 1994/1995 and 1995/1996.
A number of taxes imposed on the uses of various public services will become another financial source for the games. Airline passengers, for example, have been paying an additional Rp 1,000 each since Nov. 1.
Surjadi said the soaring Games budget was unavoidable due to the increasing number of participants. There will be 5,049 sportsmen and women from the country's 27 provinces competing in 35 events during the 1996 Games. The previous games offered only 29 medal events.
Chairman of the sports council, Wismoyo Arismunandar, said that the costs of the next games should not be borne by Jakarta alone, but by all participating provinces.
Jakarta was named the permanent site of the games in 1973. President Soeharto fended off mounting public opinion last year, when it was suggested that the Games be moved outside of Jakarta. (amd)