Massive investment suggested for sports
Massive investment suggested for sports
JAKARTA (JP): The government needs to invest at least Rp 200 billion (US$86 million) per year if Indonesia is to wrest the Southeast Asian Games title from Thailand in two years.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said on Sunday evening that the sports program needs a major boost if Indonesia is to succeed at the 19th SEA Games, which will be held in Jakarta in 1997.
"In addition to the Rp 200 billion annual budget, we'll also provide better management to be responsible for this ambitious program," he said.
According to Hayono, whose office calculated the budget, an improved program will be critical to meeting international, Olympic standards.
But, he said, "our main priority is on the next SEA Games before we go to a higher level sporting event."
Hayono said Thailand has allocated a huge budget not only for its sports program but also for promotion of the country.
"By holding the SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand tried to erase its unfavorable image and prepare itself to host the 1998 Asian Games," he said.
"The problem now is how to convince the President that developing sports will be supporting the national economy," he said. "I'll submit a proposal on the sports development budget to the President next April."
According to the minister, as quoted by Antara, "the ideal way of raising funds is from the private sector."
Hayono added that it is not necessary for any sports official to resign after Indonesia's failure in Chiang Mai. He also urged the country's coaches to evaluate their training programs.
Indonesia's athletes tried their best during the SEA Games, said Hayono. "I don't think we should blame anybody."
Thailand has been more successful than Indonesia in its bids to host Asian and Southeast Asian sporting events, including the SEA Games and the Asia Games, the biggest sporting extravaganza in the region.
In the last 36 years it has hosted the SEA Games five times, in 1959 (SEAP), in 1967, 1975, 1985 and 1995. The Asian Games -- contested in Thailand in 1966 (after Jakarta in 1962), 1970 and 1978 -- will return to Thailand in 1998.
According to Thailand's SEA Games organizing committee, the Thais have been successful due to their ability to attract the private sector and other sources of financial support.(05)