KONI to ask government to fund SEA Games training
KONI to ask government to fund SEA Games training
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) vice chairman
Arie Sudewo is scheduled to meet with director general of budget
of the Ministry of Finance later this month to discuss the
possibility of getting financial support for the 2001 Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.
KONI deputy in charge of planning and budget Sudharno told
reporters on Monday that the discussion was to follow up earlier
talks made by the now-defunct office of the State Minister of
Youth Affairs and Sports.
"KONI will request the ministry's directorate general to
financially support the SEA Games training program. The office of
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports earlier asked for Rp
99 billion (US$10.5 million) from the government for the
training. After the office was closed we advised the directorate
general of funding needs but it has not responded," Sudharno
said.
"The directorate general might be too busy calculating the
budget allocated for each province after the government
implemented regional autonomy early this month."
The original budget was reduced to Rp 77 billion as the
training program will be cut to less than one year from earlier
plans.
KONI received Rp 1.99 billion for training from the government
in November to support 1,125 athletes from 29 sports, currently
training in their respective hometowns.
The council also received Rp 5 billion from the Gelora Senayan
Management Board (BPGS) to help the council stage the centralized
training. KONI still needs Rp 70.4 billion for next year's
training programs.
Although Korean electronic giant PT Samsung Electronics
Indonesia and fast food firm McDonald's Indonesia -- both
companies supported Indonesia's contingent to the 2000 Sydney
Olympics -- have indicated support for the idea, further
discussions have yet to take place.
Sudharno said he had no idea if KONI has received sponsorships
from private companies. "It's not my job to solicit sponsors."
Athletes will undergo selection based on their physical
fitness later in January before training starts in February in
camps located in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java,
Lampung and Bali.
The second phase training, emphasizing on athletes technical
skills, is to begin in February.
The Games will take place in September and Indonesia will
field athletes in 29 of the 32 sports featured. (ivy)