Jakarta’s Golf, Rowing Venues Remain Concerns

The Jakarta Post, 11 August 2011

With 22 sports to host at the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in November, Jakarta is still struggling to find funding to renovate the Jagorawi golf course, as well as to complete work on the rowing venue at Cipule Lake in Karawang, West Java.

“We have proposed the renovation fund for the golf venue, which costs up to Rp 2 billion (US$234,000), to Youth and Sports Ministry, but we haven’t received it yet,” Indonesia SEA Games Organizing Commitee (INASOC) deputy for venues Djoko Pramono said Wednesday.

The renovation would cover maintenance of the golf course and toilet facilities, among other things, he added.

“As for rowing, the reconstruction of the lake has begun,” said Djoko, adding that the cost of the work on the lake had reached Rp 4.5 billion.

Organizers have also started repairing Rawamangun Velodrome, after repair work delays at the venue sparked concern from Indonesian national team, Djoko said. “As far as I know, the workers are currently fixing the broken track,” he added.

Asked about the renovation and construction projects of some venues in Jakarta, the city’s youth and sports office head Ratiyono said that the velodrome would be ready for use by the end of this month.

“As for Cipule Lake, the rowing venue will possibly be finished and ready for practice early next month,” he added.

Ratiyono said work on the golf venue had initially been delayed because it had not been budgeted.

“But I’ve sent a letter to the Youth and Sports Ministry, in the hopes that it will allocate some funds for the venue from the state budget,” said Ratiyono, adding that the renovations would be minor. There is great pressure on the Games organizers to finish the venues as soon as possible, as they will also be used for warm-up events before the Games, especially by local athletes.

Despite major delays afflicting construction work on some of the venues, especially in the other host city of Palembang in South Sumatera, Indonesia has so far organized warm-up events for 12 sports — including basketball at Britama Arena sports mall in North Jakarta, and volleyball at Sriwijaya sports hall in Palembang.