Rp 1 billion for RI Olympic hopefuls
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)