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)