KONI gets Rp 5 billion for Olympics preparation

KONI gets Rp 5 billion for Olympics preparation

Zakki Hakim , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Sports Council (KONI) received Rp 5 billion
(US$590,000) in financial assistance from the Bung Karno Sports
Complex management (BPGBK) on Tuesday to help cover the cost of
Indonesian delegation for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

According the chef-de-mission, Indra Kartasasmita, the money
would only cover a part of the Rp 25.7 billion total needed to
prepare and send the national squad to Greece.

KONI, Indra added, would also get another Rp 5 billion package
pledged by the National Education Ministry through the
Directorate General for Sports Affairs.

Given the soaring budget, the amount pledged would be far less
than what is needed, but Indra said that he was optimistic about
getting all the money, as KONI was currently negotiating for
sponsorships.

"We will manage to cover the remaining cost, somehow," he
said, adding that KONI chairman Agum Gumelar was currently in
talks with several sponsors.

Indra, who is also in charge of planning and budgeting affairs
at the National Sports Council (KONI), said that Rp 14.13 billion
of the fund would be allocated to cover expenses during the
training program, Rp 5.6 billion for the dispatch of the
delegation to the event, and Rp 5.9 billion for bonuses and
allowances.

More financial help is also expected from official sponsors of
the Olympics through the International Olympic Committee (IOC),
Indra said.

The 2004 Olympics will run from Aug. 13 to 29.

Indonesia has secured 18 slots so far for the world's biggest
multi-event sporting spectacle: archery (2), swimming (3),
weightlifting (7), windsurfing (1), tae kwon do (2), tennis (1)
and track and field (2).

The tennis and track-and-field qualifiers will be going to
Athens as wild card recipients.

KONI is counting on more spots from cycling, badminton,
rowing, judo, boxing, beach volleyball and diving, as the
qualifiying for those has not been finalized.