KONI vows to pay training expenses for KL SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): Despite suffering financial problems, the National Sports Council (KONI) pledged on Monday to meet its obligation to finance the third phase of the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games training program next month.

SEA Games deputy training director, Imron Z. Syarifuddin, said that KONI would cover the total cost of sending the 553 athletes from 29 sports organizations who qualify for the program's final phase.

"We'll start the third phase next month. We guarantee that KONI will finance all the athletes selected to join the core team for the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 games.

"If sports organizations want to include additional athletes, they will have to pay for the extra expenses.

But Imron failed to mention how KONI would get the money to fund the training, transportation and accommodation of the athletes during their stay in Kuala Lumpur.

So far, KONI has gathered Rp 28 billion (US$2.5 million) out of the Rp 48.6 billion needed for the final phase and to send the core squad to Kuala Lumpur, leaving a Rp 13.9 billion deficit.

The figure of Rp 48.6 billion consists of Rp 22.5 billion for training, Rp 20.3 billion for sports equipment and the trip to Kuala Lumpur and back, and Rp 5.8 billion in bonuses for medal- winners.

KONI has been urged to prioritize the most prospective athletes and sports due to the limited budget available, particularly after the government only agreed to provide Rp 5.5 billion in assistance rather than the Rp 10 billion proposed by the council.

Imron emphasized that KONI could reduce the number of athletes when it decided on the core squad later in July.

He also urged sports organizations to focus on their training.

He cited the example of the Indonesian Karate-do Federation (Forki), which named the prospective karatekas to its core team after a selection.

"Karate is very focused. They only picked those karatekas who have the best chances of winning medals in the Games."

Imron said certain organizations, including the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI), were still in doubt as to which athletes to select.

"PASI is not focused. There are 46 events featured in the Games, but PASI earlier notified us saying that it would only compete in 38 events. But it then corrected this by saying it would only send athletes to 35 events.

"PASI can see its athletes' performances based on their records. If their personal bests are far from their Southeast Asian competitors, PASI must evaluate the chances of their winning medals.

In a related development, the Indonesian Judo Association (PJSI) official in charge of athletes' development, Subardi Suar, said the association would likely send 23 judokas to the games.

"A judoka faces the risk of injury so it's better for us to bring enough substitutes. Moreover, we want to prepare our judokas for the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea." (ivy)