KONI asks BPGS for Rp 5b for Olympics
KONI asks BPGS for Rp 5b for Olympics
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has requested
the Gelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS) for a total budget of
Rp 5 billion (US$715,000) to finance the national contingent for
the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
KONI secretary-general Rudolf S Warouw said on Friday evening
that BPGS had not yet responded to the request. However, KONI
said they expected the budget to be disbursed soon in order to
finance the centralized training program for the Olympics.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela
promised he would stage a meeting with BPGS to fulfill KONI's
request.
"The government will help out but it depends on our budget.
However, the government has an obligation to spare some funds
earned by taxpayers to finance the sports society's needs," said
Mahadi, who is also a deputy chairman of BPGS, after a meeting
with KONI officials.
KONI has requested Rp 6.9 billion from the National
Development Planning Board (Bappenas) to finance its Olympics
preparation. Since Bappenas had not yet responded, KONI turned to
BPGS asking for Rp 5 billion.
KONI has saved Rp 800 million to finance the training programs
prior to the Olympics qualification, which will end in April
2000.
"KONI will send about 40 athletes, some coaches and officials.
The Rp 5 billion is enough to finance our needs from the
preparation to the implementation," Warouw said.
Despite the funds, KONI also asked Sinambela to urge the
government to help the National Games (PON) Organizing Committee
which was still searching for money to cover its deficit of Rp 10
billion to stage the quadrennial event in Surabaya.
During his visit to KONI, Sinambela also listened to the
explanation of the Golden Garuda project, which is the
preparation for the 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur
and the 2000 Olympics.
Sinambela said the project was excellent as it included
starting the athletes' development from a young age.
"It's really good and realistic. The main problem is how to
get funds, especially since KONI has priorities on some sports,"
he said.
He also said sports development did not need to be a one-gate
policy, but it needed good cooperation from KONI, the office of
the state minister of youth affairs and sports, the national
education ministry and other parties.
KONI vice chairman Indra Djati Sidi said sports development in
the future would rely on each province's financial condition
while the government would only make policies and programs.
Indra said the Golden Garuda project had yet to run smoothly
as the government had not yet issued a presidential decree to
support it. (yan)