Indonesian Olympic team secures fund
Indonesian Olympic team secures fund
BANDUNG (JP): Chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI)
Wismoyo Arismunadar retracted on Thursday his concern over fund
scarcity which has plagued Indonesia's preparations for the
Olympic Games in September.
"There are no more obstacles left concerning the fund for the
2000 Olympics," Wismoyo announced here during his visit to the
training center for the Paralympic Games, which will follow the
Summer Games in Sydney.
Wismoyo said KONI had secured the Rp 6 billion Indonesia
required to send its athletes to the world's largest sports
event, which are to be held for only the second time on
Australian soil.
The statement came after weeks of speculation that KONI could
not afford to provide the funds, and thus could not fulfill
Indonesia's preparations for the Olympics.
Many had earlier expressed fear of a financial shortage
Indonesia might face since its economy had not recovered. No
sports officials were able to confirm whether the fund-raising
program for the Olympics was a success.
Wismoyo further said KONI had also secured a commitment from
several companies wishing to provide cash bonuses for Indonesian
athletes who win medals at the Olympics.
"There have been some sponsors and companies ready to give
complimentary bonuses and honors to the medal winners," Wismoyo
said, adding that sports equipment producer Yonex, electronic
giant Samsung and energy drink producer Extra Joss were the
companies which promised to provide the rewards.
However, he refused to reveal the amounts of the cash bonuses
to be given to winning athletes.
"We haven't gone that far, but it is certain that we will
provide incentives," he said.
The men's doubles badminton team of Ricky Subagja and Rexy
Mainaky shared Rp 500 million in cash after winning Indonesia its
sole gold medal in the previous Olympics in 1996.
Indonesia again will rely on its badminton players to win
medals in Sydney.
Wismoyo was more frank on the country's representatives to the
Paralympic Games, the major sports event for the disabled. He
promised Rp 20 million in cash bonuses for each gold medalist.
Indonesia will feature 45 athletes in the Paralympics, to be
held a week after the Olympics. Head of the national training
center for the Paralympics, Syamsul Masri, said Indonesia was
eying two golds from men's weightlifter Harsono of Palembang and
men's air rifle specialist Ongko Suratin of Medan.
Syamsul told Wismoyo that his team needs Rp 145 million more
to finance the training session and daily needs of athletes
during their stay in Sydney. KONI and the government have
disbursed Rp 105 million and Rp 350 million respectively for the
national Paralympic team. (25)