Sport bodies receive Rp 600m aid<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono
\nIsman yesterday handed over financial aid worth Rp 600 million
\n(US$263,852) to sports organizations in 10 provinces, the
\nIndonesian Aero Sports Association and a badminton training
\ncenter in Bandung.<\/p>\n
\"The main objective of extending the aid is to arouse the
\npublic's interest in sports. At present, less than three percent
\nof the community are really active in sports. This is
\nregrettable,\" Hayono said.<\/p>\n
However, he warned the aid recipients of any misuse of the
\nfunds for unnecessary sports projects, such as constructing a new
\nsoccer stadium.<\/p>\n
\"Be wise in managing the funds,\" Hayono told the aid
\nrecipients, adding that communities in certain regions have a
\nvery strong interest in sports but lack inadequate sports
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
He noted that the government had also planned to extend
\nfinancial help to beef up the development of priority sports,
\nthe sports Indonesians excel in or most popular sports among
\nIndonesians, such as badminton, soccer, archery and boxing.<\/p>\n
In the first instance, the funds should be used for talent
\nscouting and promoting sports in the community,\" Hayono said.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, Hayono also reminded the national team
\nfor the 18th Southeast Asian Games in December of a hard-fought
\nstruggle to retain its overall title.<\/p>\n
\"Experience in the 1985 SEA Games in Thailand where we lost
\nour overall championship title shows that it's going to be hard
\nfor us to top the medals tally this year,\" Hayono said. The
\ngames, slated for Dec. 7 to Dec. 19, will take place in Chiang
\nMai, Thailand.<\/p>\n
Hayono said that the fact that Indonesian athletes finished
\npoorly at the just concluded Asian Track and Field Championships
\nwas another strong indication that Indonesia may fail to shine at
\nthe upcoming Games.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesian athletes who passed through the qualifying rounds
\nclocked longer than their Malaysian or Thai counterparts,\" said
\nthe minister. (arf)<\/p>",
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