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)