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)