KONI urges quick budget provision

KONI urges quick budget provision

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Sports Council (KONI) has told legislators that
the delayed disbursement of funds from the state budget for the
2005 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games contingent is preying on the
minds of athletes.

KONI needs Rp 84 billion (US$8.8 million) for the preparation
of its SEA Games training camp and contingent expenses, with Rp
76.35 million designated from the state budget and Rp 7.6 billion
to be secured through donations.

However, the revised state budget has yet to be approved by
the House of Representatives. Another hearing has been scheduled
for Monday.

KONI has been forced to spend Rp 9.3 billion of its own money
to cover the budget shortfall.

"So far, KONI can cover the daily expenses. But as athletes
have heard that the funds from the state budget have yet to be
disbursed, it's bound to affect their mental strength," KONI
secretary-general Djohar Arifin Hussein said on Thursday after a
hearing with House Commission X on education, youth, sports,
tourism, art and culture.

KONI plans to send 656 athletes to the 23rd SEA Games, to be
held from Nov. 27-Dec. 5, with expectations for the team to at
least retain its third place in the medal standings from the last
Games in Hanoi.

The budget allocation for Hanoi was Rp 39 billion.

"For such a big contingent, funding is always one of the key
factors to succeed," he said.

Of the total budget, the training program will take Rp 56.3
billion while supporting expenses for the contingent requires Rp
27.7 billion.

Expenses for the training program include monthly stipends,
such as for each athlete in the amount of Rp 1 million; local
coaches (Rp 2 million each); foreign coaches (US$3,000 each);
managers (Rp 1.5 million each) and sports technicians (Rp 1
million each).

There are also allocations for accommodation (Rp 80,000 per
day), daily expenses (Rp 150,000 per month) and tryouts (Rp 14.5
million per athlete).

Expenses for the contingent in Manila will include the return
ticket of $600 per person, accommodation of $40 per person per
day and a daily allowance of $60 per person per day.

Meanwhile, commission X head Heri Akhmadi promised to help in
the disbursement of funds as soon as possible.

He told KONI that it also must be transparent in explaining
the use of the funds because they were provided by the people.

The country will participate in 36 of the 41 sports featured
in Manila.