To Atlanta with hope<\/p>\n
Should we send our best athletes to the Atlantic Olympic
\nGames?<\/p>\n
Pessimism is now prevalent in the country's sports circles,
\nand many doubt if Indonesia will even snatch a medal. The results
\nof the 1995 SEA Games would seem to justify that pessimism. Not
\nonly did our team fail to win first place, but the champion was
\nfar ahead of the runner-up in collecting medals.<\/p>\n
Still, I think it would be wise for Indonesia to send its best
\nathletes to the Olympics. To win medals there might be a pipe
\ndream, but Atlanta should at least give our athletes a chance to
\nbreak their own records. More exposure and experience in
\ninternational sports events is imperative.<\/p>\n
The main culprit of the failure in the recent SEA Games seems
\nto be something intangible, i.e. the consumptive and easy
\nlifestyle common among many high-income earners and well-to-do
\npeople.<\/p>\n
One indication of the declining ethos in sports is the fast
\ndwindling number of grass fields near school buildings and
\nsuburban areas. In the 1960s and 1970s we still had enough
\ngrounds for sports activities. Now we witness ostentatious
\ndisplays of \"high\" lifestyles on golf courses and in other
\nexclusive facilities.<\/p>\n
With due respect to the government's efforts to develop
\nsports, the impression, hopefully a wrong one, is that work done
\nso far to promote sports have been patchy and more a reaction to
\npublic criticism. The government's program of making sports part
\nof the nation's development efforts is a laudatory one. Under
\nsuch a program the youths should be encouraged to consume more
\nbeef, fresh milk, fish and fresh vegetables. Fresh milk, for
\ninstance, should be distributed free to all school children, at
\nleast twice a week.<\/p>\n
In addition, physical education should start in primary school
\nand be a compulsory subject. A national program is necessary to
\nproduce qualified sports teachers.<\/p>\n
Youths should be urged and encouraged to adopt frugal and more
\nspartan lifestyles. This would be a gigantic program requiring
\nlong term national efforts. Big corporations should be involved,
\nnot only for their financial assistance, but also for their moral
\nand social support in reorienting commercials that encourage
\nwasteful expenditures.<\/p>\n
Sports should be brought closer to the hearts of the people.
\nOnly a sports-minded society can breed potential champions. In
\nthe era of globalization, sports play an increasingly effective
\nrole in promoting mutual understanding among nations. Sports
\nrecords and championships, not military arsenals, should be one
\nof the obsessions of peace loving nations.<\/p>\n
To conclude, it is good to give an example of how many of us
\nlook at sports and games. But look at the cigarette commercials
\nat local soccer and other sporting matches. Why not milk or other
\ninnocuous products? Smoking is an anathema to the world of
\nsports, isn't it?<\/p>\n
SOEGIO SOSROSOEMARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/to-atlanta-with-hope-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }