SEAG organizers urged to stage a modest event

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman urged SEA Games organizers yesterday to stage the biennial event modestly.

"They don't have to force the public to pay for the over calculated budget to host the event," he said.

Hayono said organizers did not have to stage an extravagant opening ceremony but had to pay more attention to athletes' facilities and venues.

"The budget for the ceremony is better used for upgrading venues," he said.

Indonesia will not be able to present a fascinating opening ceremony like the one Thailand staged in 1995, because Thailand had years to prepare, he said.

"But staging a simple ceremony does not mean that it will reduce the value of the event but the most important thing is for it to be successful," said Hayono, who is also the games organizers' executive director.

Hayono said organizers had collected Rp 20 billion (US$8.5 million) from an international sponsorship agency owned by Rupert Murdoch.

Wismoyo Arismunandar, the National Sports Councils' chairman, said the games' revised budget was Rp 95 billion so organizers still needed Rp 75 billion.

Organizers have calculated the budget would blowout to Rp 140 billion once the budget for grooming national athletes was included.

"The budget excludes renovations to Senayan Stadium," he said.

Although the amount was more than first planned, underwriting consortium representative Enggartiasto Lukito said it could collect the funds on time.

Hayono said the government would provide Rp 3.4 billion to subsidize the country's squad.

Organizers have lobbied Brunei Darussalam, which refused its appointment as host, to help them.

"Formally we're not asking for Brunei's help because as we have to take all responsibility as the host," he said.

Hayono expects the public to support the event.

"It'll be very nice to see our people filling all venues because they really want to," he said.

So far, Indonesia has yet to be able to invite people to arrive in a multi event sports.

"I want the games organizers not only to be able to host guests from Southeast Asian countries but also to be a good host for our own public," he said.

Thais are very appreciative of sports and this drives their sports development.

Citing an example, the 20,000-seat track and field stadium in the last Games in Chiang Mai was filled but Indonesia's stadium during last September's National Games was almost empty. (yan)