Old problems haunt PON<\/p>\n
As expected, the opening of the 2004 National Games (PON) on
\nThursday night in Palembang by President Megawati Soekarnoputri
\nwas warmly welcomed by the sports community and locals, although
\na few eyebrows were raised at the appearance of some old faces in
\nthe quadrennial event.<\/p>\n
This year, about 7,000 athletes from 30 provinces will compete
\nin 41 events.<\/p>\n
To the organizers' credit, it must be said that Palembang, the
\nprovincial capital of South Sumatra and this year's host city,
\nwon its race against time to construct new sports facilities for
\nthe event.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the hustle and bustle of the extravaganza
\nwas marred by complaints from the press about the poor media
\ncenter and the organizers' unwillingness, or incapability, to
\nprovide the necessary information and results on each sporting
\nevent -- crucial for the media battling to meet their own
\ndeadlines.<\/p>\n
Among the few lesser events worth noting as PON began: Newly
\ncrowned Olympics medalist Taufik Hidayat stumbled in the first
\nround of the badminton men's singles, even before PON opened,
\nwhile veteran gymnast Jonathan Sianturi took a gold.<\/p>\n
These events raise the cliche question: What is wrong with
\nsports development in this country?<\/p>\n
As a national event, PON is expected to produce winners who
\ncan represent Indonesia in international meets. It is meant to
\nserve as a practice arena for athletes aiming to reach higher
\nlevels, such as the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Asian Games
\nand the greatest sporting event of all: the Olympics.<\/p>\n
PON is not a stage for those who have already attained high
\nstanding, but a launchpad for junior athletes.<\/p>\n
If only this objective was implemented properly, Indonesia
\nwould not find it so difficult to promote talented youths in many
\nsporting events, particularly in the two offering the most gold
\nmedals: track and field and swimming.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, many provincial chapters of the National Sports
\nCouncil (KONI) insist on continuing to send their -- and the
\ncountry's -- best athletes, and richer provincial chapters vie
\nwith each other to \"buy\" athletes one year before PON to compete
\nfor them and improve their medal chances.<\/p>\n
The sports community and its observers have criticized such
\npractices, but since no measures have been taken and no legal
\ngrounds are available for their prevention, the practices
\ncontinue unchecked.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a lack of local competitions in most sports -- due
\nto lax sponsorship and financing shortages -- is holding back the
\nnation's sports development.<\/p>\n
Without regular competitions at schools and clubs, and at the
\nprovincial and national levels, it is impossible to monitor the
\nprogress in sports development.<\/p>\n
This combination of factors lead to what is happening today in
\nIndonesian sports.<\/p>\n
The recently concluded 2004 Athens Olympics showed Indonesia
\nway down at 48th in the medal tally, having won only one gold,
\none silver and two bronzes -- poorer than the country's
\nachievement four years ago, when our athletes brought home one
\ngold, three silvers and two bronzes. Even at the SEA Games,
\nIndonesia tails Thailand and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Obviously, some action must be taken immediately, an action
\nthat involves all relevant parties, from the president-elect of
\nthe upcoming Sept. 20 runoff, to new legislators, businesspeople,
\nthe sports community and the public.<\/p>\n
Development efforts at the grassroots level must be undertaken
\nwithout delay, starting with the nurturing of talent at
\nelementary and secondary schools and advancing to holding regular
\ncompetitions at the provincial and national levels, seeking
\nsponsorship and providing welfare incentives and benefits to
\nathletes after their heyday. All these are crucial issues that
\nhave yet to be addressed properly.<\/p>\n
Even the Sports Bill, which ensures the welfare of athletes
\nand regulates national sports development, remains in draft form
\nat the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
Enough complaints about Indonesia's underdeveloped sports
\nsector have been aired. Unless something is done, the country
\nwill be left standing on the sidelines, wondering when they will
\nbe able to get out on the field and score achievements similar to
\nthose its neighbors are already making.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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