UCI complains on unpaid allowances

UCI complains on unpaid allowances

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Cycling Association has received
a written complaint from the International Cycling Union (UCI)
because the association has yet to pay umpires' allowances for
the 19th SEA Games cycling competition here last October.

The association's vice chairman, Hario Tilarso, said Friday
that three foreign umpires led the competition in road race,
mountain bike and track events.

"The association was shocked by the letter because this is the
first such thing for the association. The Games organizers should
have paid the allowances a long time ago. But since this is not
the association's responsibility, we can't do anything," he said.

Hario, who is also a sports doctor, said allowances, tickets,
fares and accommodation for the umpires were the Games organizers
responsibility. He also said that the association has asked for
the organizers to pay for the allowances but there has been no
response.

"The association has responded to the protests from the UCI
and the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), stating that it was
not the association's responsibility. But, still, the UCI and the
ACC have asked the association to pay," he said, Antara reported.

The organizers also still have to pay S$3,840 (US$2,211) for
hockey balls, Rp 288 million (US$28,100) for doping tests and
gender verification tests, Rp 90 million to print competition
forms and Rp 168 million for foreign referees airline tickets and
allowances, including the cycle umpires.

The SEA Games consortium, which was responsible for financing
the biennial event, said that it suffered Rp 68.1 billion losses.

The association's athletes development chairman, Didi
Sudijanto, said that he did not know the amount of the referees'
allowances but "it must be big because they're responsible for
the competition."

Didi said that the ACC chairman Darshan Singh of Malaysia, who
is also the honorary guest, has also yet received his allowance.

"Darshan called the association several times asking about his
allowance but I can't answer it," he said.

The 19th SEA Games organizing committee said the cycling
umpires' allowances were no longer the organizers'
responsibility.

The Games organizers' vice chairman, Arie Sudewo, said
yesterday that the organizers would not pay for the three foreign
umpires' allowances because the organizers had asked the cycling
association to submit its budget plan before the biennial event
began.

"We have handed over the money as stated in each sports
organizers' budget plans. If the Indonesian Cycling Association
gets a written complaint from the International Cycling Union and
the Asian Cycling Confederation, it's their internal problem,"
said Arie, who is also the National Sports Council's vice
chairman.

"The association has yet to discuss the problem with the
organizers, so what are we going to do about it?" he asked.

Arie said the organizers would help solve the problem faced by
sports organizations but it would also depend on the sports
organizations' ability to do so. (yan)