Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika urges all related officials to support the inaugural Asian Beach Games to be held in October in an effort to make the island a preferred destination for future sporting events.

Pastika said the games could expand Bali's tourist attractions from just culture to include sports.

"Let's not be narrow-minded and just think about the little things. There is a big potential revenue pool we can reap here," Pastika said after a meeting with the Bali Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (BABGOC) on Thursday.

"Besides, sporting events can provide another backbone in our efforts to improve Bali's tourism industry."

Pastika was commenting on the funding problems BABGOC was experiencing, as the central government would only provide Rp 75 billion (US$8.2 million) from the estimated Rp 150 billion required.

BABGOC's original estimates reached Rp 250 billion, which was reduced to the current estimate due to limited financing.

During the meeting with Pastika's administration, committee members asked regents to lift duties from billboard advertising the games and assist the committee in providing volunteers for the cleanup effort after the games.

Pastika said the committee's requests would not burden the regional government's coffers, citing "huge" potential benefits from the games.

"Just imagine, more than 3,000 international athletes coming to Bali, bringing their families with them too. We want them to go home with fond memories of Bali," he said.

"So I urge the respective regents to coordinate with the committee members and help make this event a success," he said.

Sanctioned by the Olympics Council of Asia, the Asian Beach Games is the first ever beach sports event held by Asian nations, with more than 3,000 athletes from 45 countries slated to compete.

The games, scheduled to run from Oct. 18 to 26, will feature 17 beach-based sports such as beach volleyball, beach soccer and surfing.

Indonesia is preparing 214 athletes and 70 coaches to take part in all 17 sports. The country's athletes have been in Bali for training since last month.

Meanwhile, BABGOC executive director Indra Kartasasmita said the games torch will travel to Bali on Oct. 14 from Jakarta after traveling around Java.

On Oct. 15, the torch will travel for two days from Tabanan passing through major cities in Bali before ending up in Denpasar on the 17th and finally at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana compound in Nusa Dua on the 18th, where President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to launch the event.