Australia suggests Indonesia stress sports

JAKARTA (JP): Australian Ambassador for Indonesia John McCarthy suggested the Indonesian government decide on procedures for empowering its human resources focused on sports development to be able to reach higher levels of international achievement.

"Right now Indonesia has to put more resources in economic development due to recent situations. But the country will improve its level of competition and will win medals in the Sydney Olympics," McCarthy said Monday evening when serving dinner for the Indonesian Olympic contingent.

"Indonesia is very strong in badminton. But the country also has good boxers, weightlifters and wrestlers and most sports that Southeast Asian countries tend to be good at."

Indonesia is aiming to continue its recent gold medal success -- winning gold medals in each Olympics competition since 1992 when badminton was first introduced.

With 19 shuttlers in the 47-member squad, Indonesia hopes to win two golds from the men's singles and doubles. It also expects to win medals in women's weightlifting, women's taekwondo and men's windsurfing.

McCarthy said he had not observed any impact from the closing of the state minister of youth affairs and sports office, adding that Australia also did not have a dedicated sports ministry.

"In Australia, we have the ministry of tourism, sports, recreation and arts. It's the federal government and sports organizations that finance the development of sports in each state."

McCarthy emphasized that sports development must start at grass roots level.

"But sports development at grass roots level will take lots of money, human resources and time. It may take longer in developing countries."

"It is much easier for countries that have big incomes like the United States or Germany as they dedicate significant resources for sports development. China also focuses its resources on sports development."

"Some sports are taught in schools and the neighborhoods usually have sports organizations. For example, in Australia soccer is taught at schools but there are also many clubs in the neighborhoods for kids until they are 18 years old. Certain people with high skills will be chosen for higher level competition."

McCarthy recalled when Australia had its worst achievement in the Olympics 16 years ago.

"We did very badly for a country with a medal tradition in the Olympics. That's when we decided to set up the Australian Institute for Sports."

Speaking on the role of Olympics to strengthen relationships among participating countries, McCarthy said he did not want to exaggerate but sports are very important in developing friendships.

"I think sports can preserve the tradition of relationships among countries. Political issues should not affect sports as they have in the past," he said, referring to the boycott conducted by the United States of America and its allies including Australia at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. (yan)