PON organizers not expecting subsidies

JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya, East Java will fund the event through partnerships with local business and do not expect government subsidies, chairman of the games organizing committee Basofi Sudirman said yesterday.

Basofi told a hearing with National Sports Council officials yesterday that people in the province would work together to make the games a success.

"We're ready to hold the event, even without subsidies from the government or the sports council. We are proud of having good and complete sports facilities and an enthusiastic private sector," Basofi said.

He emphasized that the organizers would not sell stickers to raise funds, despite the fact that they face a shortfall of Rp 10 billion (US$1 million) in the budget required to host the quadrennial event.

"We don't want to place a further burden on the people because they have already donated money for the games," Basofi said. A total of Rp 35 billion from three annual provincial budgets, beginning in 1997/1998, has been diverted to fund the games.

"The provincial budget comes from public money, so we don't want them to pay even more for the Games," he said, adding that public attendance and support for the competition would be enough.

The Games, to be held from Sept. 4 to Sept. 16, 2000, is expected to cost the province Rp 45 billion. Twenty eight sports will feature in what is the first national games to be held outside Jakarta since 1969. The event that year was also held in Surabaya.

Basofi said he was optimistic that the shortfall in funds could be overcome through private sector sponsorship.

"We started promoting the event three years ago and enthusiastic companies have now begun to approach us with proposals," he said.

No official response has been given to the proposals because, although personnel have been selected, the games organizing committee has yet to be inaugurated.

Basofi said he would not repeat the mistakes committed by organizers of the 19th SEA Games in Jakarta last October.

"The need for well organization and clear contracts with the private sector are the lessons we can learn from the SEA Games," he said.

"We enjoyed that extravaganza but only heard prolonged wrangling over financial matters in the aftermath. The event itself is now long forgotten," he added. (emf)