Rp 1 billion for RI Olympic hopefuls

JAKARTA (JP): The Gelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS) is preparing Rp 1 billion (US$1.45 million) to help the National Sports Council (KONI) train its athletes for the 2000 Olympics.

"BPGS has prepared Rp 1 billion to help us hold the training while KONI waits for money from the National Development and Planning Board (Bappenas) and state enterprises," KONI vice chairman Arie Sudewo said during a media conference after a council plenary meeting on Wednesday.

The chairman of the Gelora Senayan Executive Board, Yasidi Hambali, confirmed BPGS would financially assist KONI, but he declined to go into detail.

"KONI officials have asked me to speed up the disbursement of the money. However, I have to bring the matter to BPGS officials," he said.

KONI plans to begin its training program in January, after the Idul Fitri post-fasting month holiday. Until then, it will use its routine budget of Rp 800 million to finance the athletes' training.

"While we are waiting for the Rp 6.9 billion from Bappenas and state enterprises, we'll use our Rp 800 million budget to cover our expenses.

"We have urged State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela to urge Bappenas to disburse the money soon," Arie said.

Indonesia has qualified women's sprinter Irene Truitje Joseph; women's taekwon doin Juana Wangsa Putri; women's archer Hamdiah; men's swimmers Richard Sam Bera, Wisnu Wardhana, Albert Christiadi Sutanto and Akbar Nasution; women's swimmer Elsa Manora Nasution; and a number of badminton players for the Olympics, which will take place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1.

KONI is hoping to qualify additional athletes for the Olympics before the April 1 qualification deadline.

KONI also will establish a joint secretariat with the office of the state minister of youth affairs and sports, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of National Education and Bappenas to implement the Golden Garuda project, which aims to move Indonesia up to sixth position at the 2006 Asian Games. The 2000 Olympics and the 2001 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur are seen as bench marks for this goal.

The joint secretariat will serve as a working committee for the central coordinating board of the Golden Garuda project.

Arie said KONI would hold various classes, including English, for coaches in order to improve their skills ahead of the Olympics and SEA Games. He also said if necessary, KONI would send coaches abroad to increase their knowledge.

"By knowing our coaches' skills, we can estimate how many foreign coaches are needed to boost our athletes' performances at both events," he said.

Arie said the concept of the Golden Garuda project was good, but the implementation needed improvement.

"KONI still has to work hard to familiarize people with the project through electronic and print media, because most Indonesians still have no idea about it. I think we could host a talk show on TV to explain the project.

"Some provincial administrations still have no idea what to do with the project's budget, and they spend it for sports activities which are not included in the project. That's why we need to more effectively familiarize people with the project," Arie said.

KONI is scheduled to discuss the Golden Garuda project with Mahadi on Friday. (yan)