Govt neglecting sports development: Council
Govt neglecting sports development: Council
JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar grumbled yesterday about the government's lack of
attention to sports development.
Wismoyo said the government's negligence was clearly shown in
the amount of money it had donated to the council for various
sports events in the past four years.
"There have been inadequate contributions from the government
to our programs since the 18th Southeast Asian Games in 1995," he
said.
Then, he said, the government only provided Rp 750 million
(US$350,000) out of the total budget of Rp 18 billion to finance
Indonesia's preparations for the games.
When the country hosted the event last year, the government
did not give one rupiah to the council after the latter struck a
deal with an underwriting consortium. The games cost the
consortium, chaired by former president Soeharto's son Bambang
Trihatmodjo, Rp 156 billion.
The consortium has reported a Rp 68 billion deficit. As if to
add insult to injury, it was rocked by embezzlement accusations
involving by its staff members. It also was widely criticized for
lacking transparency in managing the funds raised in part from
stickers sales.
Wismoyo lodged a fresh complaint following the government's
commitment to cover Rp 5.2 billion out of Rp 7 billion the sports
council says it needs to groom athletes for the 13th Asian Games
in December.
"I don't know if the government lacks money or attention. I
think it falls short of both," he said.
"Look at the Thai and Australian governments which give very
different treatment to their respective sports organizations
bracing for big events."
Thailand will host this year's Asiad, while Australia will
host the Olympic Games in 2000.
Wismoyo also praised the Gelora Senayan Management Board's
offer to give financial aid, saying that he would ask the board
to cover the Rp 1.8 billion deficit it was facing ahead of the
Asiad.
On Tuesday, the managing director of the Senayan sports
complex, Yasidi Hambali, said that the council, as a member of
the board, deserved a share in the profit from running the
venues.
"If I can simply ask for money from the board, I'll be very
happy," Wismoyo said yesterday.
Wismoyo suggested that the board improve communications and
coordination among its members.
"We have had no formal meeting. We need to sit together to
discuss efforts to boost our sports development," he said.
The minister/state secretary is the ex-officio chairman of the
board. The state minister of housing and settlement, the state
minister of youth affairs and sports, minister of public works,
the chairman of the National Sports Council, the Jakarta governor
and the Jakarta military commander are the ex-officio members.
(yan)