Athletes told to ignore politics at Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela urged national athletes to keep focusing on the Olympic Games training program and ignore the possibility of political problems at the Olympics in Sydney next month.

"Don't worry about politics. There are no more anti-Indonesian groups in Australia," he said after attending an awards ceremony at the State Palace on Tuesday.

Mahadi said several months ago, athletes might be worried about the East Timor issue that threatened the diplomatic relationship between Indonesia and Australia.

"Now we no longer have East Timor problems. So there won't be any anti-Indonesian demonstrations in Sydney. The demos occurred in Jakarta instead," he was quoted as saying by Antara.

Mahadi believes national athletes can train and compete at maximum performance levels if non-technical problems and distractions are kept at bay.

Speaking on Olympic targets, Mahadi said they would be difficult for him to realize because the contingent chef de mission must stay informed of other countries' strengths.

"I hope badminton and weightlifting can contribute medals for Indonesia as our athletes have a great chance in both sports," he said.

Indonesia will send 45 athletes from 11 sports to the Sept. 16 to Oct. 1 quadrennial event.

President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri presented 18 awards.

The "Bintang Mahaputra Utama" was presented to shuttler Rudy Hartono Kurniawan, who won the All England badminton championship eight times; Sahal Mahfudh, adviser of the Nahdlatul Ulama; Prof Saparinah Sadli; Wiweko Soepono, former managing director of GI; and artist Asrul Sani.

The "Bintang Mahaputra Pratama" was awarded to historian Des Alwi Abubakar; researcher, Melly G Tan; and professor, M Tahir Djide.

The "Bintang Mahaputra Nararya" was given to head of the National Archives, Sumartini; and Cut Djariah Azwar alias Cut ZNyak Manyak C Keumala Putrie.

The "Bintang Budaya Paramadarma" was presented to Ahmad Mattulada, a professor at the Hasanuddin University in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

The "Bintang Jasa Utama" was awarded to KH Shohibul Wafa Tadjul Arifin, owner of the Suralaya Islamic boarding school; researcher, Elisabeth Anita Widjaja; and Seokarman Kartosedono.

Meanwhile, the "Bintang Jasa Pratama" was given to Soedjeti Wardhanto, Rulani Indra Gartika Rusadi Wirahaditenaya, JT Sukotjo Atmodjo, and Syamsiah Ahmad MA. (yan)