Why is PON a turnoff?<\/p>\n
From Merdeka<\/p>\n
What is happening to the public? It is as if people have lost
\ninterest in what is happening around them, except if a student
\nriot has erupted somewhere. There is even no interest in the on-
\ngoing National Games, PON, currently being held in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The papers and electronic media are reporting poor attendances
\nthis year. Only athletes and their friends are filling the seats,
\ngiving rousing support to those in the sporting arenas.<\/p>\n
It is such a pity. How can sports become popular if people do
\nnot even like to watch them? Then, is it reasonable to expect
\nvictory on the regional and international scene? Will sport in
\nIndonesia become as advanced as in other countries if people show
\nno interest at all in national sports events? Or is it because of
\nthe poor performances of the athletes?<\/p>\n
Come to think of it, what is there really to be proud of apart
\nfrom badminton. Let us start with football (it only incites
\nfights on the field), boxing (it lost its glamor after Syamsul
\nAnwar and Ellyas Pical faded away), bridge (we were good at it
\nonce), tennis (no replacement for Yayuk Basuki yet), swimming
\n(we are losing out here too), basketball (still in the embryonic
\nstage of development) and so on.<\/p>\n
And athletes who achieve international recognition in weight
\nlifting and chess are not as fortunate as badminton players, who
\nare showered with money and gifts. There are ex-weight lifters
\nand chess players of international fame who ended their sporting
\ncareers destitute.<\/p>\n
Given this situation, the government, and KONI (the National
\nSports Council) in particular, should look into the question of
\nwhy PON has not grabbed the public's imagination this year and
\nwhy our athletes' performances are increasingly on the wane. We
\nhave to bear in mind that the success of a nation is also
\nreflected in its sporting achievements.<\/p>\n
As an important member of ASEAN, we should not be an under-dog
\nin the sports arena.<\/p>\n
YAN SUGIYANTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-is-pon-a-turnoff-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }