KONI upbeat despite its lack of funds for SEAG

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) deputy chairman Arie Sudewo expressed optimism that the training program for the 2001 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) would continue despite of shortage in funds.

KONI needs more than Rp 77 billion (US$8 million) for the training program and is working hard to meet this requirement.

Arie said the central government had yet to announce its commitment to support the training program, which are being conducted in six provinces.

"We never had a deposit of funds for the training program since the monetary crisis. The training preparations are done simultaneously with fund-raising efforts," Arie told reporters on Wednesday.

"But we have managed to finish the training in the past because there have always been unexpected revenue. That's why I'm optimistic KONI will get the necessary funds," he added.

Arie said during the preparations for the Bandar Seri Begawan 1999 SEA Games and the Sydney 2000 Olympics, KONI had to work hard to get the needed funds.

"KONI always got the additional funds just in time, before our budget ran dry, to continue with the training," he said.

"I would like to urge all athletes and coaches not to worry about the shortage in funds. They must concentrate on the training," he added.

However, Arie said KONI will reduce the number of athletes and sports events, if necessary, after an evaluation.

"KONI will surely cut down the number of athletes because we will only be sending some 600 athletes to Kuala Lumpur. Currently there are some 1,000 athletes in our preparation center" he said.

"We will drop athletes who fail to show improvements. KONI may also drop an event or sport if its athletes are not performing well," he added.

"There are also some athletes who fail to show up for training," Arie said.

Arie admitted KONI had to take this measure because it had been cash-strapped since the country's monetary crisis.

"Before the crisis, KONI would have had secured a significant amount of money before the preparation stage started."

When asked about its target in SEAG, Arie said KONI had to wait for the competition phase, starting in May, where the athletes would go on overseas tournaments to gauge their abilities.

"To be realistic, it will be tough for Indonesia. In the 1999 SEA Games, we only finished third after Thailand and Malaysia," he said.

"In Sydney, our athletes performed poorly compared to those from Philippines and Thailand," he added.

Arie also revealed that KONI representatives had just met with officials from the Ministry of National Education, the National Development Planning Board and the finance ministry's Directorate General for Budget.

"The meeting was to review KONI's budget for the SEA Games. The officials are still studying our budget to decide the exact amount of money still needed by KONI," he said.

"But I can't say when they will come up with the numbers. It takes time." (nvn)