KONI to finance training if govt budget canceled

JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council task force chairman Muhammad Hindarto said yesterday the council would still finance training for the 13th Asian Games if the National Development Planning Board canceled its plan to provide Rp 2 billion (US$267,000).

"The council's athletes development department will finance training from its annual budget of Rp 379 million, from an original Rp 1.2 billion, until April before the new budget period," said Hindarto, who is also the department chairman.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said Wednesday the planning board might cancel its intention of providing funds for the Asiad due to the country's monetary situation.

The Rp 379 million budget will be used for athletes and coaches' allowances, board, lodging, laundry and recreational fees.

The council has divided the 22 sports into three categories based on their chances of winning medals at the Asiad. The first is badminton, boxing, karate, tae kwon do, tennis (if world ranked 20 Yayuk Basuki plays), weightlifting and windsurfing.

Beach volleyball, canoeing, fencing, rowing, sepak takraw, swimming, wrestling and wushu make up the second category, while cycling, equestrian, gymnastics, indoor volleyball, judo, shooting, soccer and track and field are in the third category.

"Most of the athletes were in the 19th SEA Games here in October and I've asked them to use their training suits and equipment to practice," Hindarto said.

"I've also asked them to reduce the frequency of tryouts, especially abroad. Council chairman Pak Wismoyo (Arismunandar) has also asked sports organizations to pay 50 percent of their training budget instead of only 30 percent or 40 percent," he said.

Hindarto said each organization would manage the financial assistance from the council.

Each sports organization had planned to have three tryouts abroad with a budget of Rp 5 million per athlete per tryout.

"Due to the economic turmoil, each organization may only be able to have one tryout prior to the Asiad," Hindarto said.

He said he supported Hayono's call on the Indonesian Soccer Association to cancel its plan to have tryouts in Asian and European countries.

"The association has provided Rp 6 billion to stage the tryouts. They must use the money to stage the tryouts here by inviting other countries' teams. It would also entertain local soccer fans," he said.

The association plans to participate in the second ASEAN Tiger Cup championship prior to the Asiad to test itself.

"The association must not complain if the council uses the Tiger Cup as the only barometer to evaluate its performance during Asiad preparations."

Hindarto said the lack of tryouts would influence the council's evaluation due to limited data on the national team's performance.

"The association must reconsider sending the team even if it has a slim chance of winning medals at the Asiad." (yan)