Athletes told to maintain their health in cold weather
Athletes told to maintain their health in cold weather
JAKARTA (JP): The last 52 athletes, coaches and officials left
for the Sydney Olympics on Sunday, with some voicing concern over
the physical condition of athletes in the cool weather of Sydney.
"Athletes have to overcome the chilly weather in Sydney which
can lead to cold symptoms. We have asked them to maintain their
physical fitness by resting and taking more vitamins," the chef
de mission of the Indonesian contingent, Arie Sudewo, said.
"We won't give them injections to help them fight off colds.
Injections will only cause fever, which would affect their
performance," he said.
Arie was speaking on the sidelines of the farewell ceremony
for the athletes at the National Sports Council (KONI) office in
Senayan, Central Jakarta.
Leaving for Sydney on Sunday were 19 shuttlers, four swimmers,
three divers, two judokas, two tennis players, two table tennis
players and one taekwondoin. They were accompanied by 19 coaches
and officials.
The first batch of athletes, officials and coaches departed on
Sept. 1, followed by a second batch on Sept. 5.
The group on Sunday left aboard a Garuda Indonesia flight
departing at 6:30 p.m. from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
They had a 45-minute stopover at Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar
before continuing on to Sydney, which is an eight-hour flight.
Arie also expected athletes would not allow themselves to be
provoked by any taunting over the situation in East Timor.
"They must maintain their composure and keep a smile. We must
not mix sports with politics. Remember friendship is more
important than everything, including medals," said Arie, who is
also KONI vice chairman.
"President Abdurrahman Wahid also asked our athletes to take
good care of the image and dignity of our country," he said.
KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar urged the athletes to go
all out in representing Indonesia. "I ask athletes to give their
best, to their last drop of sweat, for the country."
"It will be a blessing for our crises-ridden country if the
athletes can equal our achievements at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic
Games with less preparation," he added.
Indonesia won one gold, one silver and two bronze medals --
all in badminton -- at the Atlanta Olympics.
This year, Indonesia has set a target of two gold medals in
the men's singles and doubles badminton events. (nvn)