KONI chief says Arie resignation would not help<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo
\nArismunandar yesterday indicated that he would not accept the
\nresignation of Indonesian contingent chief Arie Sudewo, following
\nIndonesia's loss of its overall title at the 18th Southeast Asian
\nGames in Chiang Mai, Thailand.<\/p>\n
Arie, who announced his intention to resign last week as
\nIndonesia's failure to retain the title became a foregone
\nconclusion, is also Wismoyo's second-in-command.<\/p>\n
"It won't solve the problem," an unusually-taciturn Wismoyo
\ntold The Jakarta Post at KONI headquarters.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo had just arrived from the airport, after welcoming
\nhome the first group of returning Indonesian sportsmen and women.
\nWismoyo greeted them in a simple ceremony after their Garuda
\naircraft touched down at 4 p.m.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo said at the airport that he saw no point in Arie's
\nresignation, since he did not think it would improve the
\ncountry's sports performance. "Together we must sail through both
\ncalm and stormy weather," he added.<\/p>\n
The 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai were the worst Games ever for
\nIndonesia. Host Thailand scooped 157 gold medals, while Indonesia
\ncame in a distant second, with 77 gold medals. It was Indonesia's
\nsecond defeat to Thailand after its 1985 loss in Bangkok.<\/p>\n
Arie told the Post yesterday that it was not the right time to
\nmake any comment on whether or not he was serious about
\nresigning.<\/p>\n
"Please don't ask me that question now," said the Army
\nlieutenant general who described himself on Sunday as a man who
\n"loves sports but has no experience in managing sports".<\/p>\n
Arie indicated that he might speak more about it at a formal
\nceremony to mark the dissolving of the Indonesian SEA Games
\ncontingent at KONI headquarters today.<\/p>\n
Earlier, at the airport, Arie told reporters that he would
\nfeel guilty if he did not resign. Pressed on whether he might
\nreconsider the move, he said he needed time to think.<\/p>\n
Arie offered his resignation from the position of KONI deputy
\nchairman in a statement on Sunday, just hours before the Games'
\nclosing ceremony. In the statement he said his resignation was a
\nconsequence of Indonesia's inability to retain the overall title.
\nArie said he made the decision without consulting with Wismoyo or
\neven with his wife.<\/p>\n
Arie was responsible for the selection of the national teams
\nKONI sent to the just-concluded SEA Games.<\/p>\n
KONI spokesman Ishadi told the Post that whether or not Arie
\nwould eventually abort his term was very much dependent on
\nWismoyo's decision. "But as far as I know, he has not submitted a
\nresignation letter to Wismoyo yet," Ishadi said.<\/p>\n
At the airport, Wismoyo placed a garland round the neck of
\nfemale rower champ Salma Haryono of Southeast Sulawesi while
\nMinister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman adorned Arie
\nSudewo with another garland.<\/p>\n
The second group was due to depart for Jakarta from Chiang Mai
\nat midnight.<\/p>\n
Ishadi said that a cash bonus of Rp 25 million promised for
\neach Indonesian athlete who won a gold medal in Chiang Mai would
\nbe submitted symbolically in today's contingent dissolving
\nceremony. However, he was unable to explain whether an athlete
\nwho won more than one gold medal would get the bonus multiplied
\nby the number of his or her gold medals.<\/p>\n
"I hope this can be explained tomorrow," he added flatly.<\/p>\n
"Welcome, our sports ambassadors. We remain proud of you,"
\nread a big banner on the facade of KONI headquarters as the
\nathletes, clad in indigo blue jackets with straw hats, arrived at
\nKONI headquarters accompanied by some Harley-Davidson riders.
\nSome were welcomed by their families. There were smiles and
\nlaughter. But many seemed pensive.<\/p>\n
"This is sports. It's impossible to always win in
\ncompetition," badminton queen Susi Susanti commented.<\/p>\n
"Here we are, the loser. We didn't think Thailand would outdo
\nus by that much. They kept secret any information about their
\nathletes, whom they trained abroad. We, by contrast, were an open
\nbook. Everyone could see how we trained," Sarengat said. He added
\nthat Thailand won because it was better and because it used any
\nmeans, including dishonest practices, to get gold medals.<\/p>\n
KONI's foreign affairs officer Rio Tambunan said he saw for
\nhimself how the boxing referees fabricated scores in favor of
\nThai boxers.<\/p>\n
"Especially the referees from South Korea and Bangladesh," he
\nadded. (arf)<\/p>",
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