Mahadi sees four problems in sports development<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
\nMahadi Sinambela said on Tuesday fund-raising remained a major
\nimpediment to developing sports in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Our large companies have yet to show an interest in
\nparticipating in the development of sports. Only cigarette
\ncompanies have invested their money to sponsor national sports
\nevents,\" Mahadi said during the closing ceremony of the national
\ncoordinating meeting for youth affairs and sports at Sahid Jaya
\nHotel in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Sponsors will be interested in staging an event if it
\ninvolves a lot of spectators. That's why it's easier for soccer
\nmatch organizers to get sponsors than chess competition
\norganizers,\" he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
Mahadi said developing sports must be a community effort. \"If
\nthe community cannot solve the problems in sports development,
\nparticularly in raising funds, then it will be the government's
\nresponsibility to take over the problems and find the solutions.<\/p>\n
\"However, the current government also faces problems raising
\nfunds. If the sports community needs funds from the government,
\nthen it has to wait.\"<\/p>\n
He also said his office must concentrate on promoting public
\nsports, including jogging and light exercise.<\/p>\n
\"Athletes performing in international events are the National
\nSports Council's responsibility. Our main responsibility is to
\nmake sports a part of the people's lives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
One way to achieve this is to build multifunction sports
\nfields in each district, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Some districts already have the fields. However, they need
\ncertification confirming that the fields belong to the city
\nadministration. Otherwise, when the district's mayor or regent is
\nreplaced, the fields can be used for their own benefit.<\/p>\n
\"If we can start this small program, I believe that in the
\nfuture sports will be a part of Indonesians' lives and we will
\nhave no problem finding young talents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mahadi also pointed to a dearth of gym teachers as another
\nobstacle to developing sports.<\/p>\n
\"The government must overcome the most basic and important
\nproblem of a lack of gym teachers. Based on reports, Indonesia
\nneeds more gym teachers from the elementary to high school
\nlevels,\" he said. \"We have held discussions with the Ministry of
\nNational Education on how to cope with the problem.\"<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, Mahadi also urged support for his
\noffice's provincial chapters.<\/p>\n
\"If (provincial) administrations don't throw their weight
\nbehind the chapters' programs, then we won't have any budget to
\ndevelop athletes in the provinces because the programs will be
\nfinanced by the provinces' budgets.\"<\/p>\n
On the 1997 Southeast Asian Games underwriting consortium's
\ndebt to the government, Mahadi said he preferred the case be
\nbrought to court.<\/p>\n
\"If the consortium still has assets, I think the court can
\ntake over the assets. They must return the money they took from
\nthe government.\" (yan)<\/p>",
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