Arie named training director for Olympics and SEA Games

Arie named training director for Olympics and SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) named its
vice chairman Arie Sudewo as training director for the 2000
Olympics in Sydney and the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in
Kuala Lumpur next year.

Arie told reporters after KONI's plenary meeting on Monday
that he was very surprised with the announcement.

"I never request any assignments but I never decline them
either. This is an honor to do my duty for my country through
sports competition. I will give my best, and I hope the sports
society will give their support during the training programs," he
said.

KONI secretary-general, Rudolf S. Warouw, said earlier that
Arie would have a challenging task of retaining the badminton
gold medal in the Olympics and reclaiming the overall
championship in the SEA Games.

"Chairman Pak Wismoyo Arismunandar requested suggestions from
KONI top officials and other sports organizations for the right
man to handle the training. Pak Arie fulfilled the criteria of
leadership, flexibility, acceptability, dedication and
experience," he said.

Warouw said Arie would likely shift his concentration from the
of the 15th National Games (PON), of which he is an official, to
focus on preparations for the Olympics.

He also said that none of the officials objected to Arie's
appointment despite his failure to become Indonesia's chef de
mission in the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

"Pak Wismoyo said Arie's experience in Chiang Mai was a great
lesson to support him in handling his new duties for the Olympics
and the (SEA) Games."

Arie said he would organize the training program and appoint
his assistants, and report to Wismoyo on Friday.

He also said that funds would be the main problem for the
training programs.

"We have an estimated Rp 6.9 billion (US$958,340) to prepare
athletes for the Olympics and to finance their needs during the
quadrennial events. The amount excludes transportation and
accommodation as they will be free of charge."

"We have Rp 2 billion in hand from donations by the Gelora
Senayan Management Board (BPGS). However, once we start the
training, we cannot stop the program due to lack of funds."

Arie said about 40 athletes would likely compete in the
Olympics.

"They have been prepared by each sports organization. We will
start the centralized training program officially on Feb. 1. We
will try hard to achieve better than in the last Olympics," he
said.

Indonesia won only one gold medal -- from badminton men's
doubles Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky -- during the 1996
Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Arie said the training program for the 2001 SEA Games would
start after PON is held in Surabaya in June.

"The best performers in PON have a great chance to join the
SEA Games' centralized training program. Some of the Olympics
athletes will join their compatriots in the program after
September."

Indonesia aims to reclaim its overall title from Thailand
after its athletes' poor showing in the 1999 Games in Brunei
Darussalam where they only brought home 44 golds, 43 silvers and
58 bronzes.

Warouw said KONI would name the number of sports events and
athletes for the SEA Games after its executive council meets in
March to decide which sports to feature in the biennial event.
(yan)