SEAG consortium needs presidential instruction

SEAG consortium needs presidential instruction

JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to issue a presidential
instruction appointing Bambang Trihatmodjo the coordinator of an
underwriting consortium for the 19th Southeast Asian Games.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman told
reporters yesterday that the instruction will be issued early
next month.

"It is aimed at integrating both the government and the
private sector in staging the event and in achieving double
successes as the host and the overall winner," Hayono said.

Bambang's appointment will be brought up in another
ministerial meeting on March 26, before being confirmed by
President Soeharto.

Due to his business background, Bambang, a son of President
Soeharto, will be given a post on the Games Organizing Committee
as deputy chairman in charge of finance, promotion, commerce and
logistics.

National Sports Council Chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar was
elected early this month as the committee's chairman.

Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, representing the host
city, was named Wismoyo's deputy. The other two deputies, in
charge of competition and facilities, have not been appointed
yet.

Hayono said that Bambang, who heads the Bimantara Group, was
named the coordinator on Monday because he was the only
businessman to submit a proposal to the ministry.

"Other businesspeople who want to join the consortium, please
contact Mr. Bambang," he said.

Hayono said that Bambang's company is prepared to provide the
entire Rp 70 billion (US$30.4 million) set for the biennial
sporting event, regardless of the losses he could suffer.

Wismoyo said on Monday that the consortium is likely to profit
from the event. The consortium will share its profits with the
council and the ministry's foundations.

Aside from the whopping financial commitment for the SEA
Games, Bambang also pledged to donate Rp 3.5 billion ($1.5
million) to the council to prepare for the Olympic Games in
Atlanta. With Rp 1.5 billion in financial already received from
American bank Citibank, the council has now covered its budget
for the Olympics.

Venues

Hayono also made it clear yesterday that the Senayan sports
complex will be the venue of the 17 events in the SEA Games.

Indonesia has proposed 25 sports to be contested next year,
but the final decision will be made at the SEA Games Council
Member Meeting here in August.

Some martial arts, like karate, silat olahraga and wrestling,
will take place in a pencak silat complex in Cibubur, East
Jakarta, which is now being completed.

The Emeralda golf course in Cibubur will be the venue for
golf.

Hayono said that the Sentul circuit might be used for archery.

Rowing events will be held at the Jatiluhur dam in Purwakarta,
West Java, while yachting will take place at Ancol Beach in North
Jakarta.

Hayono said the need for a new sports complex to hold an
international multi-sport event like the SEA Games and Asian
Games is inevitable.

"Senayan is too crowded now because it is in the heart of the
city," he said.

He expressed hope that Indonesia will be ready to host the
2010 Asian Games in the new complex, though there is still no
indication of where the Games will be held.

However, Hayono insisted that Senayan's main stadium should be
preserved for historical value.

As the organizing committee scrambled to find a place to house
the SEA Games participants, Hayono named the Graha Garuda Tiara
Indonesia dormitory in Cileungsi, Bogor, West Java, as a
possibility. The dormitory is owned by the President's eldest
daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana.

Hotels will only accommodate supporters from participating
countries, Hayono said. (05)