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)