Sports organizations told to submit financial reports

JAKARTA (JP): Sports organizations under the National Sports Council (KONI) have been ordered to submit administrative and financial reports on time to avoid delays in disbursements of a government assistance fund for athletes preparing for the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The government has postponed the fund disbursement following reports of an alleged swindle involving officials of the Indonesian Bowling Association (PBI) and the Indonesian Equestrian and Horse Racing Association (Pordasi).

"All sports bodies have to submit their regular reports on time, otherwise they will not receive any funds for next month's allocation," SEA Games training director Kusnan Ismukanto said on Wednesday.

In the report, each organization accounts for all of its activities and administration during a certain period.

"It is understood that the fund originally came from people and the sports bodies must account for any usage of money," Kusnan said.

He acknowledged that most of the sports bodies had failed to comply with the rule because some of their athletes and coaches were abroad for training and tryouts.

Kusnan also revealed that five sports bodies used bank accounts in their respective top official's name instead of the organization. However, he refused to identify those sports bodies.

Under the program, each athlete is entitled to a total sum of Rp 2.5 million (US$295) per month while coaches receive Rp 3.5 million each. In addition, a Rp 1.5 million monthly management fee is given to each sport's project manager.

The government has promised the Indonesian contingent a total of Rp 15.5 billion to finance their training sessions and daily expenses during their stay in Kuala Lumpur.

Some Rp 5.5 billion of the fund is disbursed to each sports organization in installments every month, while the rest is transferred in a lump sum.

A KONI staff member in charge of financial affairs, Wahid, said that the Rp 10 billion fund was sent out in July.

Wahid also said KONI would transfer Rp 1.6 billion in August to cover the expenses of 541 athletes and 124 coaches.

"We have so far disbursed some Rp 448 million. The remaining Rp 1.152 billion will follow as soon as we submit the monthly reports. It will take the State Treasury Office about four days to process the disbursements," he said. (nvn)