KONI seeks more sponsors for SEAG, Asiad

KONI seeks more sponsors for SEAG, Asiad

JAKARTA (JP): Following its success in gathering sponsors for
the 2000 Olympic Games, the National Sports Council (KONI) is now
searching for sponsors to finance the training programs for the
2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur and the 2002
Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea.

KONI official in charge of planning and budgeting, Togi
Hutagaol, said KONI was still facing difficulties in finding
permanent sponsors to fund Indonesia's participation in
multisports events.

"It's hard for us to find sponsors. They only want to support
world-class sports like badminton," he said.

Togi said KONI has approached telecommunications company PT
Excelcomindo Pratama and Standard Chartered Bank about sponsoring
the training programs.

"We are still negotiating their possible cooperation.
Generally, they have approved the idea. We want them to support
the Olympics and the 2001 SEA Games," he said without providing
any details on how much funding was required for the SEA Games
training program.

Togi said the South Korean beverage manufacturer which
produced and distributed the Ginseng Up energy drink here, had
offered to set aside Rp 200 (US 2.6 cents) from each bottle sold
to finance sports development.

"We have yet to complete negotiations with the company.
Basically we're hoping for a larger amount from the company," he
said, adding that the sponsorship would only last for a limited
time.

Togi reiterated that KONI was still hoping the government
would approve the fund-raising program Damura (the People's Fund
for Sports), because the program would provide a sustainable fund
for sports development.

The organizer of Damura, PT Mutiara Mandala Mahardhika (3M),
has agreed to contribute 16.5 percent of its total Rp 50 billion
in projected income to KONI.

KONI needs Rp 6.9 billion to finance its Olympic training
program. It has received Rp 2 billion from the Gelora Senayan
Management Board (BPGS) and the Rp 500 million surplus from last
year's SEA Games budget. It also received a Rp 1 billion
contribution from McDonald's Indonesia and $100,000 in cash and
goods from PT Samsung Electronic Indonesia.

The council expects to receive another Rp 4.2 billion from the
government.

KONI vice chairman Arie Sudewo said he had personally
approached the director general for the state budget at the
Ministry of Finance, A. Anshari Ritonga, to release the money.

"He understood our difficulty and promised to disburse the
money soon. However, we must also understand the tight schedule
in his office.

"I asked him to disburse half of the money, if possible,
before we run out of funds in mid-April. I believe he will
respond to the request," he said.

Togi said KONI would award Rp 1 billion bonuses to Olympic
gold medalists, Rp 500 million to silver medalists and Rp 250
million to bronze medalists.

"The amounts are similar to those offered to medalists in the
1992 and 1996 Olympics," he said.

Arie also said women's tae kwon doin Juana Wangsa Putri and
her South Korean coach, Oh Il-nam, departed on Friday to begin
Juana's training.

"KONI's medical team said Juana has recovered from her back
injury and was ready to start training. She is capable of
competing in the Olympics," he said. (ivy/yan)