Wismoyo asks governors to lead sports
Wismoyo asks governors to lead sports
JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunadar yesterday urged officials of its provincial chapters to name their respective governors the chairpersons.
"This will help the chapters to ask for funds from prominent businessmen in their provinces, which are necessary to run their training programs," Wismoyo said.
Wismoyo was addressing a KONI national congress which ended yesterday. A total of 121 representatives of all provincial sports bodies, sports and sports-related organizations under KONI's supervision attended the congress.
Wismoyo said it was important for KONI provincial chapters not to heavily rely on KONI for funds because KONI does not receive much money from the state budget.
"The government's priority is eradicating poverty, not sports. Hence, we cannot hope for much from the state budget," Wismoyo said.
KONI relies heavily on its special staff, consisting of the country's prominent tycoons, for funds. For the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, last December, for instance, KONI received Rp 13 billion from its special staff and Rp 3.7 billion from the state budget.
However, having governors as chairmen of KONI's provincial chapters might not be as effective as Wismoyo suggested.
Sabran Malisi, training director of East Kalimantan sports governing body said yesterday that his office had applied Wismoyo's suggestion in the form of foster parent scheme a few months before the 1993 National Games.
Under the scheme, East Kalimantan governor, who was also the chairman of the provincial sports body, asked the logging companies there, to nurture local talents who were groomed for the 1993 National Games.
"It did not work as effectively as we had hoped. A year after the Games, all the companies stopped their financial aid," Sabran said.
Chief position
Sabran said a more effective way would be giving the businessmen chief positions within the sports office. "That way, they will have more sense of responsibility," Sabran said.
Johan Alexander Ferdinandes, deputy chairman of North Sumatra sports governing body said that the problem with Wismoyo's suggestion was that businessmen would mostly be interested in helping athletes that are already strong.
"Our problem is that we need a very good program to enable the athletes to reach this level. And to create such a program, we need money," he said.
The congress yesterday agreed that KONI should make all possible efforts to secure sports funds through the levying of more taxes on cigarettes and other goods which are harmful to the body such as alcoholic drinks, more intensive sponsorship programs, partnership with the business community, especially with the insurance industry (to provide bonuses for athletes who win medals at Games such as the Asian Games or the Olympics).
The congress also agreed that KONI, in cooperation with the Directorate General of Taxation and Immigration, should help its provincial branches when it comes to the importing of sports equipment. (arf)