KONI short of funds: Official

KONI short of funds: Official

JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) deputy chairman
Arie Sudewo said on Wednesday that KONI had not succeeded in
securing sufficient funds to finance sports development or to
send athletes to sports events.

"In the national congress held last February, we pledged to
raise some Rp 300 billion as an 'eternal' fund. But until now, we
have no cash in hand," he said.

Arie said that each time KONI got some money, it had to pay
for its athletes to attend domestic or international tournaments,
including the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games earlier this
month.

"If we earn a little, we have to spend it for immediate needs,
like the SEA Games, and in the near future the Olympic Games, the
2000 National Games (in Surabaya, East Java) and the 2001 SEA
Games (in Kuala Lumpur)," he said. (ivy)