Bali Sports Foundation

The Beat - Bali Sports Foundation (Yayasan Damai Olahraga Bali) is a registered Indonesian Charity that provides sporting opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled people in Bali and East Indonesia. The yayasan was founded in 2009 by Rodney Holt and is now governed by a board of trustees all with the same passion and aim to help the people of Indonesia through sport. Sport can and has changed the lives of many people, both able bodied and disabled throughout the world and now, through the work of BSF many Indonesians now have the same opportunity.

In August 2014, BSF received an invitation from the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation to field a team at the upcoming Asian Paragames in Incheon Korea in October. In order to accept the invitation BSF sought the approval of the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC) which was received, however, due to the lateness of the invitation, NPC was unable to offer much financial assistance as budgets had already been set.

This set BSF with the challenge to raise the necessary funds to send the team of men and women to Korea as the first ever Indonesian Wheelchair Rugby Team. As a charity, all funds for programs at BSF are raised through donations, sponsorships and fundraising events. On Friday, October 3, BSF, with the help of others who generously donated their time and/or services, held a fundraising event at Taman Baca Social Club in Kesiman, Bali. The event was organised by Brianna and Katrina Simorangkir and with the generous support of Jerinx, from Devildice and Superman is Dead, and the use of the Taman Baca Social Club, much needed funds were raised, but also many more people in Bali are now aware of the work of Bali Sports Foundation.

The evening saw four bands play throughout the night, Devildice, Hydrant, Unthudded and Reborn plus disabled Balinese Dancers performed to the delight of the crowd. On sale were paintings, t-shirts, wine, beer, food and ice cream plus raffles and a hermit crab race were held to raise money. In addition to that there will be an online auction of two autographed Superman is Dead CDs. All who attended were also privileged to meet the Indonesian Wheelchair Rugby Team plus members of the Korean Wheelchair Rugby Team who were in Bali to help train the Indonesian team. Considering the short time BSF had to promote the event it was well attended and has gotten them closer to their target. But there is still a way to go.

You can still support Bali Sports Foundation and their programs, especially the Indonesian Wheelchair Rugby team by making a donation direct to BSF at www.balisports.com/donate