Hayono inaugurates new sports compound in Sentul<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono
\nIsman yesterday opened a Rp 4 billion (US$1.8 million) sports
\ncompound in Sentul, Bogor.<\/p>\n
Situated near the international motor racing circuit, the new
\nfacilities are owned by the Indonesian Volleyball Association
\n(PBVSI). PBVSI built the posh sports complex as part of its
\nstrategy to win double gold medals at the December's Southeast
\nAsian (SEA) Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, later this year.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian men's spikers achieved a golden hat trick in
\nthe past three SEA Games, while their female compatriots suffered
\na setback. The national women's team finished third behind the
\nPhilippines and Thailand in the 1993 Games after winning the
\nsilver in 1989 and 1991.<\/p>\n
Two 1000-seat volleyball stadiums highlight the five-hectare
\ncompound, whose construction began in September 1993. Its
\nsupporting facilities include two sand courts for volleyball
\nexercises, tennis courts, basketball halls, a swimming pool and
\njogging tracks.<\/p>\n
A library, offices, a fitness center, a polyclinic, a multi-
\npurpose hall, four 20-person dorms and a 40-person dorm (not yet
\ncomplete) were also built within the complex.<\/p>\n
PBVSI chairman Kunarto said after yesterday's ceremony that he
\nstrongly believed the new training center was critical for
\nIndonesian players in their efforts to catch up with their Asian
\nand other world-class counterparts in the future.<\/p>\n
Kunarto pointed out that some Asian countries already have
\nworld-class teams, and that the new sports complex, officially
\nnamed Padepokan Volley Indonesia, should enable Indonesia to keep
\nup with them.<\/p>\n
PBVSI was the first among four sport organizations which
\nrefused to send athletes to the Asian Games in Hiroshima last
\nyear, saying that it would not be able to win the medals expected
\nby the National Sports Council (KONI). The Indonesian men's
\nvolleyball team finished second behind Japan in the Asia- Pacific
\nchampionship, a warm-up for the Games.<\/p>\n
Kunarto, who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Audit
\nAgency, said that upon completion, construction costs were
\nestimated at Rp 5 billion.<\/p>\n
Hayono, reiterating Kunarto's belief, said he was optimistic
\nPBVSI would achieve its goal, not just because of the sports
\ncompound, but because PBVSI's management was second best only to
\nthe Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI).<\/p>\n
The national spikers will try out the new facilities when they
\nstart their training stint for the SEA Games. (arf)<\/p>",
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