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)