KONI told to hurry its Games budget<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
\nHayono Isman urged the National Sports Council yesterday to
\nreport on its preparations for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok as
\nsoon as possible.<\/p>\n
\"If the council reports its preparations soon, we can try to
\ninclude the finance in the 1998\/1999 State Budget. Based on the
\nprocedure, it maybe late but since this is a special priority I
\nthink we can suggest it in the State Budget,\" Hayono told
\nreporters at his residence yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The council should arrange the Games budget and we'll see how
\nmuch can be financed by the State Budget and how many sports
\norganizations can finance themselves. Organizations which are
\nunable to finance themselves, will be prioritized.\"<\/p>\n
Hayono said the Rp 15 billion (US$4.58 million) from the State
\nBudget which is used to develop sports in the provinces should
\nnot be used to finance the Indonesian Asian Games contingent.<\/p>\n
He also said the council had full authority to decide which
\nsports to contest.<\/p>\n
Last week, the council announced 16 sports it was considering
\ncontesting in the quadrennial event. They are badminton, weight
\nlifting, fencing, track and field, cycling, karate (only kata
\ndivision), surfing, archery, gymnastics, swimming, tae kwon do,
\ntennis, beach volleyball, boxing, judo and rowing.<\/p>\n
Hayono said the council must select sports in which Indonesia
\nwill get at least a bronze medal.<\/p>\n
\"For some athletes, the Asian Games will give them more
\nexperience to compete better in future international multisports
\nevents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Citing an example, Hayono said Indonesian archers, who only
\nwon one gold and three silvers in the just-concluded SEA Games,
\nshould not be sent to the Games.<\/p>\n
\"But considering our glory in the 1988 Olympics when we won a
\nsilver, we need to consider sending archers to the Asian Games.\"<\/p>\n
However, Hayono urged the Indonesian Archery Association to
\ntake on board all input and disregard all personal interests
\nwhich might hinder the sport's development.<\/p>\n
\"The officials must resolve their internal conflict before
\nimproving their training program. Even though they are to
\ncontract a foreign coach, I think it'll be useless due to the
\nconflict,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Several months before the SEA Games started, the archers went
\non strike because they could not abide their strict coach.<\/p>\n
Hayono said Indonesia also had good chances in the Asian Games
\nin swimming and gymnastics.<\/p>\n
\"I think the Indonesian Swimming Association will be able to
\nsend several swimmers to the Olympics in 10 years. Besides, the
\nassociation does not need financial assistance from the council
\nin sending its athletes to international competition,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But we still have to develop gymnastics in schools throughout
\nIndonesia,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Hayono said the council's statement not to send the national
\nsoccer team to the Asian Games was reasonable.<\/p>\n
\"Our results in international events have not been very good
\nlately. Our team is still below South Korea, Japan, China, Middle
\nEastern countries and ex-Soviet Union states. We may have to wait
\na long time to see our team reach a high position in the world,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Hayono said he did not agree with the Indonesian Soccer
\nAssociation's plan to stage a long-term training program for the
\nAsian Games.<\/p>\n
\"The soccer players must train in the national league instead
\nof having a long-term training camp. The association needs to
\nimprove the quality of domestic competition as a fundamental of
\nits training,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hayono said the association would pay the US$69,000 in
\noutstanding referees' allowances during the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
\"We must just wait for the Games consortium, which is
\nresponsible for financing the Games, to pay the money,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Asian Football Confederation told the association to pay
\nthe allowances in four weeks or else face an unspecified
\npunishment. (yan)<\/p>",
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