Indonesia launches bid to host 2006 Asian Games

Indonesia launches bid to host 2006 Asian Games

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Indonesia launched here on Friday
its campaign to host the 2006 Asian Games. Indonesia last hosted
the Games in 1962.

The bid was announced during a breakfast meeting at the
Sheraton Utama Hotel in the Brunei Darussalam capital of Bandar
Seri Begawan. Brunei is currently playing host to the 20th
Southeast Asian Games.

In attendance were representatives from eight Southeast Asian
countries -- Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Vietnam was not represented
at the meeting.

National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar
told his guests Indonesia was serious about its bid.

"To reach the goal, we have made all necessary preparations,
including drawing up a master plan of infrastructure and
organization," he said.

He also announced Indonesia's bid theme: Go for the best with
honor.

The deputy director of the Gelora Senayan sports complex
management board, Muhammad Sarengat, said Indonesia would build
an athletes village near the Senayan sports complex and renovate
Senayan Stadium as part of its bid.

"We have two options: Demolish the Fairbanks athletes
apartment or build the village on a plot of land on Jl. Patal
Senayan behind the Senayan golf course," he said.

He said it was hoped a private company would construct the
village in exchange for management rights of the facility after
the Asian Games ended.

Wismoyo said after the meeting Asia's major sporting event
should be held in a Southeast Asian country to motivate countries
in the region to unite in overcoming the economic crisis.

The 2002 Asian Games will take place in Pusan, South Korea.

Indonesia will be competing with Malaysia, India, Hong Kong,
Qatar, Syria and Uzbekistan for the right to host the 2006 Asiad.
The Olympic Council of Asia will announce the winning bid in
October 2000.

Malaysia National Olympic Committee president Tan Sri Imran
Ibni Tuanku Jafar, who attended the breakfast meeting, expressed
optimism his country would win the bid, particularly in light of
its success in hosting the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in
September last year.

"We held the Commonwealth Games very successfully. We already
have the infrastructure which meets international standard, and
basically this is the reason why we bid for the Asiad," he said.

Budget

He declined to unveil Malaysia's allotted budget for the Asiad
bid campaign.

"I can't comment on that. We have a considerable amount for
the campaign," he said. Malaysia launched its bid on Aug. 3, and
its campaign will reportedly cost US$ 2.2 million.

KONI secretary-general Rudolf Warouw said Indonesia's campaign
budget would likely be around $1 million.

Wismoyo said Malaysia and Hong Kong were its toughest rivals.
"Malaysia has the facilities while Hong Kong is more experienced
in looking for sponsors."

He said Jakarta, the city which is the proposed host of the
Asian Games, was safe enough for the event. "Sports are a binding
factor for Indonesian people. They will unite in overcoming
challenges to the country's sporting interests."

After a series of riots last year, Jakarta remains vulnerable
to politically motivated unrest ahead of the General Session of
the People's Consultative Assembly, which will meet to elect a
president in November.

Thailand National Olympic Committee president Cheeta Thanajaro
said it would be difficult for him to choose between Indonesia
and Malaysia because both countries were in the same region.

"It would be better if Indonesia and Malaysia discussed this
beforehand to decide between them which country was more prepared
for the Asiad. The Southeast Asian community will back the bid of
either of them," he said.

Cambodian National Olympic Committee president My Samedy
concurred, saying: "We are looking for one candidate from the
region so that we can give them full support."

Philippines National Olympic Committee deputy president
Salvador Andrada, meanwhile, supported Indonesia's bid.

"This is the right time for Indonesia to bid for the Asiad.
Indonesia has a good chance to win," he said.

Indonesia chose the National Monument as its bid logo and the
orangutan as its mascot. (ivy/yan)