Jul. 7, 2004 22:28
Paralympics team desperate for funds
By LEORA FALK

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A month and half before the Paralympics open in Athens, the Israeli team
is lacking the necessary funds to send a well-equipped team to the
games.

The Paralympics, sport competitions for physically disabled athletes
which run parallel to the Olympic Games, has, in past years, been a
source of pride for Israel - the Paralympic team has brought home more
medals than its able-bodied counterpart. However, despite their
successes, the team has not found sponsors for this year's games and
receives insufficient funds from the government.

"The only thing we are concerned about is to get there as ready as we
can, and if a lack of funds is putting us at a disadvantage, that's
bad," said swimmer Hanoch Budin, a five-time competitor and winner of
eight medals. Budin explained that the team cannot afford the latest
equipment, nor can it afford a previously planned trip to a training
camp abroad.

The team is funded in part by the Education, Culture, and Sport
Ministry. What is not granted by the ministry must be raised by the
sports clubs responsible for recruiting and training the athletes. The
clubs generally obtain support from donors, not only during Paralympic
years, but also for daily maintenance of the facilities.

Although in the past the clubs have had trouble finding sponsors for the
Paralympic team, the clubs have always managed to find enough generous
contributors to support the team. So far this year only one donor has
stepped up. Dorin Frankfurt, the Israeli designer, has agreed to design
and donate the clothes for the Paralympic ceremonies.

The additional money needed, for training, equipment, travel, and
expenses in Athens, are hard to acquire, however.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education said that it is providing the
Paralympic team with around NIS 2 million, and that on Monday they
contacted Haim Sakal, head of the retail outlet Sakal, and he has agreed
to donate sports apparel and equipment.

Radu Rosenthal, director of the Sports Association for the Disabled,
which oversees the multiple sports clubs, confirmed the promised amount
and said that he had heard about Sakal's promise, but did not yet know
how much it would cover.
Rosenthal said that the Association has, as of yet, only received NIS
222,000 from the Ministry which includes Membership fees for the Council
of Elite Sports and athletes salaries.

Another NIS 300,000 will be granted once Rosenthal signs a contract with
the Ministry, which he expects to do this week. The NIS 300,000 is to
cover Coach salaries and necessary activities in Athens. Rosenthal did
not know when he would receive the rest of the funds, saying that he was
told that NIS 500,000 will be received in October or November, after the
games are over.

Rosenthal disputed the truth of the Ministry's statement which said that
NIS 1.3m. was already provided and that the rest would be provided next
week. In addition to the funds promised by the government, Rosenthal
said that NIS 200,000 was needed to cover travel and sports equipment.

 That is the most pressing need, but further donations would be needed
because the Sports Association for the Disabled cannot pay those
awaiting payment, since the association had still not received the
promised funds from the government.

"We tried to find a donor from amongst equipment suppliers, such as
Speedo and Adidas, but they are not so ready to help us at the moment.
The question is why the big suppliers cannot help the disabled sports,
only the [able-bodied] sports?" said Rosenthal.

Ben-Arie attributed the reluctance of potential donors in part to the
economic situation, and in part to the government. "It starts with the
government," he said. "The budget we get from the government is a 10th
of that which the able athletes are getting. If the government doesn't
think it's important, why should the donors think otherwise?"

According to the Ministry of Education, the Paralympic team was granted
NIS 2m. this year, up from the NIS 920,000 granted before the Sydney
Olympics, and is granted NIS 1.7m. on years that there is no Olympic
competition. In contrast, the able-bodied Olympic team is granted NIS
80m. to be spread over the four years between Olympics.