S. Sumatra needs Rp 140b to host PON

SEMARANG (JP): South Sumatra's authorities have allocated some Rp 140 billion (US$16 million) to stage the 16th National Games (PON) in 2004, Governor Rosihan Arsyaad said on Wednesday.

"The budget is bigger than that spent by the East Java authority to host the 15th PON, because we have limited sports facilities," he said during a visit to Semarang and Surabaya.

He said that the budget would be obtained from local businessmen or investors. Many South Sumatran businessmen have pledged support for the multisports event.

"We have accumulated Rp 40 billion. The remaining Rp 100 billion is expected from companies like Pertamina, Pupuk Pusri or the Perusahaan Batubara coal mining industry," he said. (har)