Board members of sports associations are requesting large funds from the government for the 2018 Asian Games training center.
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Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo
An aerial photo shows the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex in Jakarta on Tuesday (26/12). Renovations at Gelora Bung Karno are being rushed to reach completion in February next year, in time for test events ahead of the 2018 Asian Games.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Board members of sports associations are requesting large funds from the government for the 2018 Asian Games training center. The total amount of funds proposed has reached Rp 1 trillion (US$73.8 million), well above the budget allocation of Rp 550 billion. Ironically, the huge budget proposal is not coupled with the best of achievement targets.
From the latest verification of national training proposals that were filed by 40 sports associations to the Youth and Sports Ministry, it was found that the proposed funds totaled twice the amount initially budgeted. Despite asking for a considerable amount of funds, the sports associations have collectively targeted to win medals in only 40 percent of the 462 event categories at the 2018 Asian Games. The other 60 percent or so have not targeted any medals, but have rather aimed for improved achievement.
“Not all suggestions from the associations can be accommodated. Maybe only around 20-30 percent of their proposals [can be fulfilled],” Mulyana, the deputy for the improvement of sports achievement at the Youth and Sports Ministry, said on Tuesday (26/12).
In the 2018 state budget, the government allocated Rp 735 billion for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games training center. The allocation consists of Rp 550 billion for the Asian Games training center, Rp 135 billion for the Asian Para Games and Rp 50 billion for the contingent’s operational funds during competition.
The total amount of funds allocated for the 2018 Asian Games and Para Games is relatively bigger than the budget for national training in 2014, which was Rp 250 billion. At the time, the Indonesian contingent took part in four multisport competitions, one of them being the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, where Indonesian athletes competed in less than 20 events.
In the 2018 state budget, the government allocated Rp 735 billion for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games training center.
Among the associations proposing large funds are the Indonesian Rowing Association (PODSI) with a proposal of Rp 61 billion, the Indonesian Equestrian Association (Pordasi) with Rp 60 billion and the Indonesian Karate-Do Federation (FORKI) with Rp 50 billion. The lowest proposed funds, meanwhile, came from the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) which asked for Rp 7 billion and the Indonesian Table Tennis Association (PTMSI), which requested Rp 5 billion. Most of the funds are reportedly needed for test competitions and overseas training camps.
National karate team manager Philip King Galedo said that the Rp 50 billion would be used to carry out seven activities in 2018. The activities will be participated by 24 athletes from 12 sporting categories, as well as several national coaches, foreign coaches and sports science teams. The number of athletes stated in the proposal has been deliberately increased by 200 percent to accommodate back-ups.
Previously, Pordasi secretary general Wijaya Noeradi said that the budget would be used to fund the national training program of 12 athletes and 13 horses. He said that the national training, test games and training camp will be done in the Netherlands, Germany and New Zealand up until two weeks before the start of the 2018 Asian Games.
Priority
According to Mulyana, the proposed funds should be in proportion to the achievement that is targeted. Moreover, the target should also consider the strength of other countries.
Financial support from the government will be given to sports that have set gold-medal targets. Among the event categories that are listed as gold medal priorities are badminton men’s double, women’s double and mixed double categories; pencak silat in the women’s team’s class B and class C categories; and paragliding in the accuracy and cross-country categories.
Based on the assessment of the verification team, not all the athletes will be included in national training.
“So, [associations] should not just randomly be proposing [budgets]; there needs to be a logical basis,” said Mulyana. “Sports is about objectivity and measurement, so things can’t be changed suddenly.”
In the national training proposal, it is also stated that the number of athletes put forward by the 40 sports associations amounts to 1,200 athletes. Based on the assessment of the verification team, not all the athletes will be included in national training. The athlete quota for national training is determined by athlete specification, which consists of 20 percent elite athletes, 30 percent regional athletes, 40 percent national athletes and 10 percent junior athletes.
According to Mulyana, the decision regarding athletes joining national training and the approved budget will be finalized on Friday (29/12). The Youth and Sports Minister will send a letter of decree regarding the matter to the Finance Ministry for the budget disbursement process.
Match equipment
Regarding the procurement of sports equipment, the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) deputy I for sports operation, Harry Warganegara, said in a separate interview that the equipment of nine events was ordered this year. The equipment was ordered from overseas, except for pencak silat. Inasgoc has allocated a budget of Rp 77 billion from the 2017 state budget for test game equipment.
“Some of the equipment has arrived and kept in a warehouse. The others are will arrive at the end of January,” Harry said.
The placement of the logo will take time as it will involve the services of a partner company.
He added that of the nine events, weightlifting was the only one not using new equipment. This is because the equipment must be specially ordered and estimated to arrive after the test games. Inasgoc will borrow equipment from the Indonesian Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI).
Furthermore, Inasgoc will also specially request for the equipment to have the 2018 Asian Games logo placed on them. The placement of the logo will take time as it will involve the services of a partner company. However, Inasgoc has assured that the equipment for the 40 Asian Games events will arrive in Indonesia in July.
“The order was made in stages to anticipate any delays,” Harry said.
Regarding the allocation of funds for all 2018 Asian Games equipment, Harry said he was not yet able to confirm the exact amount. This is because any order cancellations or specification changes of several equipment can still be made, considering the tight budget. So far, it has been confirmed that Inasgoc will receive Rp 1.79 trillion from the 2018 state budget for staging the 2018 Asian Games.
Alamsyah Wijaya, head of weightlifting at PB PABBSI, who is also the competition manager, said that weightlifting equipment worth Rp 16 billion have been specially ordered from Sweden. All the equipment is expected to arrive in Indonesia by April 2018.
Alamsyah said that for the test games, the association would borrow equipment from PABBSI West Java, whose equipment is complete and are of international standard. PABBSI West Java used the weightlifting equipment for the 2016 National Games.
