RI Asiad team to fly on military cargo plane
RI Asiad team to fly on military cargo plane
JAKARTA (JP): The government announced the first part of its
package to help the Asian Games team yesterday when it said the
Air Force had promised to transport the country's 200-member
contingent to Thailand on a Hercules military cargo aircraft.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono said
the Air Force would fly the Indonesian team to Bangkok for free.
"It will be tiring, but I hope it will not prevent our
athletes from giving their best in the Games," Agung said after a
meeting with National Sports Council Chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar and a group of top sports officials.
Agung said the free flight was confirmed by Minister of
Defense/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto in a meeting earlier
yesterday. Further technical details will be discussed in due
course between the staff of the two ministers.
"Now that we have settled the transportation expenses, we can
negotiate other possible government assistance," Agung said.
He said he would ask Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier to
reduce the departure tax to be imposed on Indonesian athletes and
officials leaving for Bangkok.
A government regulation issued early last month quadrupled the
departure tax imposed on Indonesians going abroad by air to Rp 1
million (US$110).
"I will be glad if the minister of finance exempts our
athletes and officials from paying that amount because they will
don the national colors," Agung said.
He also said that the National Development Planning Board had
agreed to take Rp 3 billion from the state budget to help the
national sports council finance all preparations for the Asian
Games in Bangkok in December.
The council had previously demanded Rp 15 billion, but the
board said it could not afford to provide that amount.
Agung suggested that the council introduce efficiencies and
avoid unnecessary expenditure amid the present financial
adversity, including not giving bonuses to medal-winning
athletes.
"Bonuses of course will motivate athletes to do their best. I
will let sports bodies decide their policies on this matter, but
I expect their wisdom (to prevail)," he said.
He warned that bonus promises could cause serious problems for
the sports bodies in such a crisis.
"I believe our athletes are not only seeking bonuses or gifts,
but want to see fair play and sportsmanship," he said.
Whopping bonuses poured in for athletes who won medals and
broke records in the Southeast Asian Games here last year.
On the size of the Indonesian team for the upcoming Asiad,
Agung said that only potential medal winners would deserve places
in the squad.
"In principle, the number of athletes and the events we will
take part in are always subject to change, based on the athletes'
performances during training," Agung said. (emf)