Athlete exodus a possibility: Agum

Athlete exodus a possibility: Agum

JAKARTA: Chief of the National Sports Council (KONI) Agum Gumelar acknowledged on Monday the possibility of an exodus of national athletes to more profitable shores after the sports budget was slashed.

"The possibility of an exodus cannot be avoided in this global era, especially with attractive offers from other countries," he was quoted as saying by Antara news service.

Attention to the welfare of the athletes as well as the instilling of a strong sense of nationalism were the best solution to stop the flight, he added.

"The government must give better attention to the lives and futures of athletes."

The House of Representatives cut KONI's 2006 budget from Rp 156 billion (US$15.6 million) to Rp 100 billion last Thursday.

In comparison, Thailand's annual sports budget is $240 million, excluding funds from tobacco and alcohol taxes; tiny Singapore provides $10 million and Vietnam allocates $60 million.

Indonesia, which dominated regional sports during the 1970s and 1980s, has not won the overall medal standings at the Southeast Asian Games since Jakarta in 1997.

Badminton has already experienced a flight of second-string and former top national players, who now compete for such countries as Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong and the United States. -- JP