KONI to seek Rp 500 million for training

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will borrow some Rp 500 million to support the national training program for athletes competing in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.

Moch. Hindarto, who is in charge of athletes development, said on Saturday the money would be used to pay the athletes' board and lodging, pocket money, recreation and laundry. KONI is waiting on disbursement of Rp 5.5 billion from the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).

He said the deficit that occurred during the waiting period would be shared with the sports organization.

"It is up to the treasurer from whom they will borrow the money from. We hope Bappenas will provide the money this month or by June at the latest."

Hindarto said the council would pay back the loan immediately after it receives the funds from Bappenas.

Apart from the training fees, KONI will also request another Rp 7.2 billion from Bappenas for the athletes' accommodation in Brunei.

Earlier, Hindarto said KONI would send 448 of the 549 athletes who are participating in the national training program, which started on Friday. He said two sports bodies -- hockey and soccer -- had yet to submit a list of athletes summoned for the training program.

"We asked the Indonesian Hockey Association to trim down the number of athletes they called for the program. We only listed 36 players, while they urged us to invite 72 athletes," he said. The All-Indonesian Soccer Federation would provide a list of key players after the pre-Olympic soccer team returns from Hong Kong, he said.

The SEA Games, to be hosted for the first time by Brunei, will run from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15, and will offer 235 gold medals in 21 sporting events.

Indonesia will compete in 20 events: badminton, basketball, billiards and snooker, tenpin bowling, boxing, cycling, golf, hockey, karate, Pencak silat martial art, sepak takraw, shooting, soccer, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field and traditional boat racing.

KONI would only send the most outstanding athletes for 20 sports in the Games for economical reasons.

Also on Saturday, Hindarto was appointed to lead the training center in a meeting with coaches from 20 sports bodies at KONI headquarters. He will assist KONI chairman Wismoyo Arusmunandar in managing the center. (ivy)