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.