KONI to reduce number of SEA Games athletes

KONI to reduce number of SEA Games athletes

JAKARTA (JP): Financial shortage has forced the National
Sports Council (KONI) to reduce the number of athletes being
groomed for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur in
September.

"KONI decided to reduce the number of athletes from the
original plan of 600 athletes to save more money," SEA Games
project manager I Gusti Made Putera Astaman told reporters after
an internal meeting on the Games training program on Tuesday.

"Athletes must perform at their best during the final phase of
preparation as we will later evaluate their progress during
training to decide how many athletes will compete at the
championships. There is no guarantee at all that all athletes at
the third phase will go to Kuala Lumpur."

"However, KONI still allows sports organizations to add the
number of athletes on their own expenses especially for sparring
purposes. Certain sports, such as boxing, need sparring partners
while others, golf for example, don't."

KONI is likely to reduce the number of athletes from about 600
to 553 for the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 Games. There is another
possibility to further cut the number after tryouts and final
evaluations.

Deputy project manager Sri Sudono Sumarto said KONI had so far
collected some Rp 28 billion (US$2.48 million) from Rp 41.9
billion needed to run the final stage and send the core squad to
Kuala Lumpur, leaving a Rp 13.9 billion deficit.

"The Rp 28 billion fund was accumulated from several sources
including the government's contribution of only Rp 5.5 billion,"
he said.

"There was a question among KONI officials whether it was
sufficient or not to send a contingent with such a limited
budget."

"We don't have any other options but to send a squad that is
limited by available funds. That's why we have to cut the number
of athletes to be groomed at the third stage."

Sudono said another way to save money was to ask more affluent
sports organizations to finance their preparations.

"KONI has asked 16 sports organizations to help finance their
preparation activities such as financing tryouts, hiring foreign
coaches and purchasing equipment for training and competition."

"We can then shift our limited funds to support less affluent
sports organizations."

The organizations that managed to self-finance themselves
include the Badminton Association of Indonesia, the Indonesian
Bowling Association, the Indonesian Golf Association, the
Indonesian Karate-Do Federation and the Indonesian Tennis
Association.

"These organizations will reduce some Rp 6.6 billion from the
Rp 13.9 billion deficit so we only need to find a further Rp 7.3
billion," Sudono said.

Separately, KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said the
council would stage a campaign to gain public support. The
campaign will likely include public service advertisements in the
press and fans-meet-athletes gathering. (nvn)