KONI boss assures of funds for Asiad trip
KONI boss assures of funds for Asiad trip
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Amid a potentially straining prospect of the fund-raising
campaign for the 2002 Asian Games, the man at the helm of the
National Sports Council (KONI) has offered his assurance about
the fund availability.
"Don't worry," KONI's chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar was quoted
by his top aide as saying.
"I have met him and he told us we should not worry about
financial need for the Asian Games," KONI's secretary-general,
Rudolf Warouw, told a press conference here on Wednesday.
The upcoming Asian Games will run in Busan, South Korea, from
Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.
KONI has budgeted Rp 32.5 billion (US$3.25 million) for Asian
Games. Of the amount, Rp 21.1 billion will be used to finance the
training camp, Rp 9.9 billion for the contingent trip expense and
Rp 1.5 billion is apportioned for bonuses.
Last year, KONI claimed it lacked fund for the Kuala Lumpur
2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games forcing it to solicit fund from
provincial administrations.
But it managed to reap a total of Rp 56.5 billion for the SEA
Games campaign. KONI used some Rp 45.8 billion leaving a Rp 10.7
billion of leftover fund.
KONI has announced its annual financial reports through public
announcement in two leading local newspapers, but until it had
until Wednesday stopped short of explaining what it would do or
had done with the money.
Asian Games funds are expected from the government, Bung Karno
Sports Complex Management Board and sponsors, but none has come
to their due.
"The government has pledged Rp 10 billion. It will be realized
next month. The money has already been channeled to the sports
directorate general of the National Education Department,"
Rudolf, who is also the Asiad project manager, said.
KONI also said that it had contacted other financial sources.
"It was positive. They gave good responses, but we can't
reveal the amount as yet," chief of KONI's sporting business
commission, Fritz Simanjuntak, said.
He mentioned state-owned Bank Mandiri, Korean electronics
company Samsung, and telecommunication companies Telkomsel and
Indosat as would-be sponsors.
However, Fritz casted apprehension that the money from
sponsorship would probably be less than expected.
He gave the reason but asked not to be quoted, fearing that it
might deter those companies and others from carrying on with
their pledges.
Indonesia is grooming 169 athletes to compete in 19 sports for
the Asiad. The majority of them joined the workout last January,
some having begun the training as early in September last year.
The number is likely to rise as a number of bodybuilders are
poised to add to the candidates list after they completed the
selection process.
KONI is traditionally plagued with financial problem when it
comes to preparing a squad for a multi-event sporting showcase.
Though, last year not only was financial strain resolved but KONI
appeared to obtain much more money than planned.
"We use the money for the ongoing training session," an
official in charge of the planning and funding affairs, Togi
Hutagaol, said at the press conference.
"With the fund planned for the Asian Games has yet to be
secured, we are resorting to the SEA Games leftover," Togi said.
Togi could not elaborate how much of the amount had been used.
He only said that the whole money could suffice the training need
until April.