KONI faces continued funding shortage for sports program
KONI faces continued funding shortage for sports program
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The National Sports Council (KONI) is again facing the
prospect of strained finances next year with the disclosure of
potential government funding for its sports activities.
KONI budgeting and planning head Indra Kartasasmita revealed
on Friday that the council would likely get only Rp 132 billion
(US$14.6 million) from the government, far below the proposed Rp
201 billion.
"An official at the Directorate General of Budgetary Affairs
at the Ministry of Finance told me about the amount KONI will
get," Indra said.
He provided a written report which disclosed that Rp 77
billion of the pledged amount will be allocated toward six events
next year: the South East Asian (SEA) Games, ASEAN Para Games,
Asian Indoor Games, Islamic Solidarity Games, Muslim Women's
Games and the Arafura Games.
The Indonesia Awakens (IA) program, under which 90 shortlisted
athletes of 12 sports are being groomed for Indonesia's medal
target at the 2006 Asian Games, will receive Rp 35 billion, while
the remainder of the fund will be channeled toward operational
expenses.
"It will be difficult for us to achieve high performances with
such a small amount of funding," Indra said.
The report also listed the national sports budgets of several
neighboring countries: Malaysia had budgeted $40 million in 2001
toward sports development and another $12.5 million to host the
2001 SEA Games; while Singapore has an annual allocation of S$100
million ($66 million) for national sports; and Thailand an annual
sports budget of $270 million.
KONI secretary-general Djohar Arifin said the council would
need additional funding to develop national sports and organize
activities, including sending athletes abroad for training.
"We feel relieved that Commission X at the House of
Representatives made a pledge during a hearing session on
Wednesday to help us in our efforts to locate more funds," Djohar
said, adding that KONI would, as usual, turn to corporate
sponsorship to alleviate the shortage.
Funding is a problem KONI faces every year, and has
contributed significantly to the declining performance of
Indonesian athletes as well as the lack of new recruits and next-
generation players.
This year, KONI received only Rp 42.1 billion ($4.6 million)
of the Rp 78.7 billion budget it had proposed to the government,
most of which was used to finance Indonesia's bid in the Athens
Olympics and the Paralympic Games.
"We only received Rp 9.8 billion for IA this year," Indra
said. "How can we reach our target of bringing home 10 gold
medals from the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar with such limited
funds?"