Bali Asian Beach Games facing fund constraints

JAKARTA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The preparations for the inaugural Asian Beach Games on the Indonesian resort island of Bali have been potentially stunted with the organizers facing shortages of funds, local press said Wednesday.

The Bali Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (BABGOC) has based preparations on a projected budget of 316 billion rupiah (34.3 million U.S. dollars), but only 30 percent has been pledged by the government.

BABGOC Director Rita Subowo said the government has pledged 100 billion rupiah in financial supports for the committee, who must now expect the rest from sponsors, reported English daily he Jakarta Post.

Around 6,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries and regions are expected to come to the inaugural Beach Games.

China, South Korea and 2012 host Oman, have confirmed their participation in the event, which is scheduled to run from Oct. 18to 26.

"We are still expecting the other 14 countries, including Japan," Rita was quoted as saying.

The quadrennial sporting event, which will add to the continent's already existing three games -- Asian Games, Asian Winter Gamesand Asian Indoor Games -- features 17 sports.

Some sports are new to Indonesia, prompting the host country to turn to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for assistance in preparing teams.

"We have asked OCA for assistance and they are willing to help," Indra Kartasasmita, a KON official, said.

New sports, including kabaddi, handball, woodball and the triathlon, are totally new to Indonesia.

Although they are already played at international events, sports like wresting, Indonesia's traditional martial art pencak silat, sepak takraw, soccer and bodybuilding will be played at the beach for the first time.

Construction on the game's 11 sites, which are divided into four venues -- Benoa, Sanur, Kuta and Nusa Dua -- is scheduled to begin this month.

"Bali is rich in sand. What we need to find is the place which suits other sports," Wei Jizhong, an OCA chief supervising competition, said on a tour of the venues, referring to Benoa, host to wrestling, pencak silat and jet ski.

The games are not only about competition, but about entertainment, Wei said.

"A good atmosphere is most important for the Asian Beach Games. It's like a festival. We attract people to come to Bali. Medal competition is not the only goal," said Wei.