Games consortium seeks more sponsors

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council and the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games consortium, known as PT Tata Insanimukti, held a presentation on the benefits of sponsoring the Games yesterday for 30 national and international companies.

The presentation was to invite more private firms to finance the biennial event, which will run from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

The council's chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, who is also the Games organizing committee chairman, said he hoped more national companies would become sponsors.

"Sports events will be the perfect promotion arena in the future. This is the first time we have staged the SEA Games with a consortium cooperation. It has to go smoothly," he said.

The consortium's promotion and business deputy, Enggartiasto Lukita, said a lack of information about the Games was the main reason national companies were unwilling to sponsor the event.

"After they receive a full explanation at today's presentation, we expect them to join us," he said.

During the presentation, Sports Corporation, which was appointed to raise sponsorship money, announced companies which had agreed to sponsor the Games.

National Panasonic, Tiger Beer, Konica, Seiko and Satelindo will be the official partners while Aqua, Nikon, Gatorade, Garuda Indonesia, Sunrise and Walls will be the officials suppliers.

So far only National Panasonic has made a downpayment (US$600,000). The rest of the money will be given after the event.

Tiger Beer, Konica and Satelindo have signed memorandums of understanding.

"All sponsors will give between 10 and 25 percent of their sponsorship money in downpayments and pay the balance after the Games," Enggartiasto said.

The nine-day event will be covered by TV channels for 949 hours, 864 hours for regional coverage in all 10 participating countries, 72 hours for Pan Asia coverage and 13 hours for international coverage. (yan)