Training program continues despite shortage of funds
JAKARTA (JP): The training program for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei will continue despite a lack of financial support from the government and the public, an official with the National Sports Council (KONI) said on Monday.
Moch. Hindarto, who is in charge of athlete development, expressed concern that the council only received promises for Rp 9 billion (US$1.1 million) from the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) and the Gelora Senayan Management Board.
He said Bappenas had agreed to allocate Rp 5.5 billion from the state budget for KONI and would distribute the money in June. This is well short of the Rp 22.3 billion KONI asked for.
"We will use the money to finance the athletes' participation in overseas events. But I don't think the money will be enough because we will only be able to allocate Rp 1.5 million for each athlete. This is only enough money to pay the departure tax," he said.
"We have decided that key players can practice with players at provincial or regional chapters who are at the same level of talent. But it will be difficult if the players' ability has already exceed their countrymen," he said.
He also said Bappenas had turned down KONI's request for an additional Rp 7.2 billion for transportation and accommodations in Brunei.
He said the Senayan management board agreed to provide Rp 4.5 billion for the athletes' accommodations during the Games.
"The money will be used for the athletes' transportation and accommodations and the remaining Rp 1.5 billion will be used to reward those (athletes) who produce medals for the country," he added.
Hindarto said the amount of the bonuses would be decided by KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.
KONI is facing difficulties financing the training programs and accommodations for athletes competing in the Games. While waiting for Bappenas to disburse the Rp 5.5 billion, KONI was forced to borrow Rp 500 million from its treasury to finance board and lodging, spending money and recreation costs for its athletes.
The council is only financing those athletes seen as having an opportunity to win a medal in Brunei.
Indonesia will compete in 20 events at the SEA Games: badminton, basketball, billiards and snooker, tenpin bowling, boxing, cycling, golf, hockey, karate, pencak silat martial art, sepak takraw, shooting, soccer, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field and traditional boat racing.
KONI centralized its training program here in early May. Hindarto said that as of Monday, 17 sports would be participating in the centralized training program. He also said athletes from a number of other sports bodies were training in various provinces and abroad. These include table tennis athletes, who are training in Kediri, Central Java, and swimmers and tennis players, who are training in a number of countries.
He also said training programs would not be held for badminton and soccer because their athletes were participating in a number of championships abroad. (ivy)