PON organizers hope for record-breaking year<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The success of the 14th National Games (PON)
\nwill be measured by the number of records set, organizers said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the organizing committee, Surjadi Soedirdja,
\nsaid at a rally at Senayan stadium yesterday that the Games have
\nlong served as a platform to help national athletes raise their
\nperformances to international levels.<\/p>\n
\"The number of national, Southeast Asian, Asian or perhaps
\nworld records broken during PON will show how much progress our
\nathletes have made,\" said Surjadi, who is also the governor of
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The Games, to be held here for the seventh straight time, will
\nrun from Sept. 9 to Sept. 20. President Soeharto is scheduled to
\nopen the Games at Senayan stadium.<\/p>\n
A total of 4,915 athletes from the country's 27 provinces will
\ncompete in 35 sports for 502 gold, 502 silver and 592 bronze
\nmedals.<\/p>\n
With the countdown drawing near, Surjadi asked the 1,300
\nemployees working for the committee to help make the Games a
\nsuccess.<\/p>\n
Eddy Widodo, secretary-general of the committee, said that
\n22,658 people have been recruited, 13,408 of whom come from the
\ncapital.<\/p>\n
Surjadi joined the chorus of those who would like to see the
\nGames moved. \"I'd rather see the PON held outside of Jakarta, but
\nI don't have the authority to decide the matter,\" Surjadi said.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council decides who will host the
\nquadrennial games after consulting with the President.<\/p>\n
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman earlier
\nannounced after a meeting with President Soeharto that the Games
\nwill remain in the capital for the next 10 to 15 years.<\/p>\n
This year's Games will cost the city administration Rp 11
\nbillion (US$4.7 million), or 31 percent of the total budget set
\nfor the Games.<\/p>\n
The Games are being held one year earlier than the original
\nschedule due to the general elections and the 19th Southeast
\nAsian Games in 1997.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Medan, the North Sumatran squad has insisted on
\nbringing light-middleweight boxer Hendrik Simangunsong to the
\nGames, defying the organizing committee.<\/p>\n
The committee's official in charge of competition, Mochammad
\nHindarto, announced earlier that Hendrik would be barred from the
\nGames after suffering two knock-out defeats in the Olympic Games
\nand in an Olympic warm-up tournament in July.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the North Sumatra sports governing body, JA
\nFerdinandus, told Antara yesterday that Hendrik had received a
\nclean bill of health.<\/p>\n
An Amateur International Boxing Association ruling says that a
\nboxer should be sidelined for at least three months after
\nsuffering two successive KO losses.<\/p>\n
North Sumatra will field 211 sportsmen and women during the
\nGames. (amd)<\/p>",
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