Lifters forced to scrap Greece outing<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Lack of financial support from the National Sports Council (KONI)
\nhas resulted in a late cancellation of an already-planned trip to
\nGreece by a weightlifting team.<\/p>\n
The national weightlifting body PABBSI had planned to send two
\nathletes to Tofalos Kakousis, Greece, to take part in an
\ninternational weightlifting tournament there as part of
\npreparations for the 2002 Asian Games.<\/p>\n
The team comprised lifters Nusyanto in the men's 62kg
\ncategory, Rosmaniar in the women's 48kg, coach Eddy Santosa and
\nmanager Hadi Wihardja. The tournament is scheduled from Saturday
\nuntil next Monday.<\/p>\n
The four were to have left on Thursday, only to find that the
\ntrip was canceled on Wednesday due to lack of financial support
\nfrom KONI.<\/p>\n
Hadi Wihardja, the team's manager, said that KONI had backed
\nout from its pledge to fully fund the athletes' overseas tryouts.<\/p>\n
\"They gave us only US$4,000,\" Hadi told The Jakarta Post at
\nKONI headquarters. He pointed to an envelope on the desk. \"The
\nmoney is here, but I shall return it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
They were at the KONI office supposedly to bid farewell.
\nInstead, they found themselves complaining about KONI's
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
\"How could we survive on that sum of money? It wouldn't be
\nenough for the air tickets alone,\" he said in sheer frustration.
\nHe added that the Greece trip, with four people in the team,
\nwould have cost about US$8,000.<\/p>\n
KONI is currently grooming 130 athletes, who, assessed on
\ntheir medal prospects in Busan, have been split into top- and
\nsecond-priority athletes.<\/p>\n
Nusyanto and Rosmaniar do not fall into the top-priority
\ncategory.<\/p>\n
Training director Imron Z.S. reiterated that only athletes in
\nthe top-priority list would be provided with comprehensive
\nfinancial support for their overseas tryouts.<\/p>\n
\"The policy should be reviewed. No top priority, no second
\npriority. All are representing the red and white (the Indonesian
\nnational flag). There should be no disparity in treatment,\" Hadi
\nsaid on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PABBSI secretary-general Gandrung said that it
\nwould now look to Thailand as an alternative tryout location.
\n\"Greece is too far. What more I don't think other Asian countries
\nwill participate in the event either,\" he said, in an attempt to
\nminimize the debacle.<\/p>",
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