Sports council strives to get more Games funds

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council said yesterday it would have to borrow money for Southeast Asian (SEA) Games training because of a cash shortage.

National training director Djoko Pramono said the council had so far got only Rp 16.5 billion (US$6,31 million) of the Rp 35 billion the SEA Games consortium had pledged.

Djoko reported the problem to the House of Representatives' Commission IX for religion, education and sports during its visit to Bogor to check the progress of SEA Games weightlifters.

"We need a bigger budget for the costly SEA Games' preparations to train our athletes with proper accommodation and qualified coaches," he said.

Indonesian Democratic Party legislator Sukowaluyo Mintorahardjo called on the National Sports Council to report to the President on the shortage of funds.

"The allocated funds are small compared to the nation's reputation to successfully organize the 19th SEA Games," he said.

Speaking on the controversial sale of SEA Games stickers Golkar legislator Anwar Ilmar said during his visit to the Badminton Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, that the SEA Games consortium had to control sticker sales itself to avoid the any manipulation.

"It's not the amount, but where the people's money goes and what it is used for that counts," he said.

Anwar urged local companies to be more active in the fund raising by donating money directly to the council's treasurer.

"If they don't trust the consortium, they can transfer the money to the council's saving account. It's much safer," he said.

"I believe the council has no intention of taking advantage of donated money because it needs it to stage the Games and to groom the athletes," said the former deputy Jakarta governor.

Meanwhile, the council's deputy, Arie Soedewo, denied the consortium had not yet paid a Cyprus supervisor from American company Astro Turf, which was appointed to build the synthetic hockey field.

"I have checked the problem myself but the consortium said it had paid the builder," he said.

The consortium reportedly promised to pay Seppos US$12,000 in advance but an Indonesian Hockey Association official said Seppos had not received the money.

Arie said Seppos had asked permission to return home. He also said Seppos did not need to supervise the construction every day.

Athletes

Veteran shuttler Joko Suprianto urged legislators to consider athletes' futures by providing a life-time monthly pension.

Anwar promised to take the suggestion to the State Budget Commission.

"We can also urge the President to issue a presidential decree on the problem," he said.

The pension could be divided into three categories: Olympic medalists, Asian Games medalists and SEA Games medalists, he said.

"The amount and the period for each category can be discussed in the future but I think we can't provide a life-time pension," Anwar said.

Citing an example, Anwar said when he was with the city administration it provided scholarships and jobs to athletes who won medals at the National Games.

Thirty weightlifters are now being groomed in two separate centralized training centers in Bogor, supervised by Bulgarian Nedeltcho Koley, and in Lampung under coach Imron Rosadi.

The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association's chairman, Soesilo Soedarman, said the lifters, some of them regional and world champions, were ready for the SEA Games.

"Our weightlifters have recently set new national and SEA Games records during their exercises in the two training centers," said Soesilo, who is also Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security.

Badminton coaches said they hoped the council could change the SEA Games Executive Committee Meeting's decision on the number of shuttlers each country could send.

This year only 14 shuttlers can represent a country, two players less than at the last Games.

Men's doubles coach Atik Djauhari said there were two possibilities in selecting the shuttlers.

"We can pick three singles, three doubles and one mixed doubles players or two singles, four doubles and one mixed doubles players," he said.

Atik said Indonesia's best chances for gold medals were in the men's and women's singles, the women's doubles and mixed doubles. (03/yan)