Few legislators concerned about Sports Bill

JAKARTA (JP): Only a few members of the House of Representatives (DPR) are concerned about sport and this is apparently affecting the introduction of the Sports Bill to the House through the private-member's-bill mechanism.

"We need at least 20 signatures from House members to submit the bill. Unfortunately, only a few of the legislators are concerned with sport," a member of House Commission VI on Human Resources and Religious Affairs, Ismangoen Notosaputro, said on Wednesday.

"The House is prioritizing political issues. Actually, we had planned to pass the bill as a Sports Law by the end of this year. It would seem, however, that we will now have to wait until the political situation improves."

Ismangoen was speaking at a discussion on Presidential Decree No.72/2001, dated June 14, which controversially gives the National Sports Council (KONI) authority over both amateur and professional sports.

The decree was issued as Indonesia does not yet have a Sports Law.

The Sports Bill covers future protection for athletes and former athletes, especially those who have notched up international achievements.

Ismangoen admitted it was difficult to find reasons for uniting both sports under KONI's auspices.

"KONI has had a difficult task in managing amateur sport, and now it is being saddled with an additional burden. But since the decree has been issued, we should urge KONI to exercise its authority and perform its duties proportionately. The decree is only a transitional regulation until we have a Sports Law," he said.

KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said the time was over for arguing over amateur and professional sports. It was more important to create a lucrative sports business which would benefit all sides.

"Even the International Olympic Committee (IOC) hasn't been using the word 'amateur' in its charter since Juan Antonio Samaranch took control 21 years ago," he said in a written statement read by vice chairman Arie Sudewo.

"Samaranch said in his visit here that if we failed to create a lucrative sports business then it would be our own loss."

KONI legal commission chairman Minang Warman said the decree offered an alternative for developing national sport while awaiting for the Sports Law to be enacted.

"The decree does not change KONI's duties and responsibilities drastically but only adapts them to accord with current tendencies, such as the omission of the word 'amateur' from the Olympic Charter."

But a member of the Indonesian Boxing Commission's legal team, Steve Tengko, said it was impossible to unite both amateur and professional sport under one roof, especially in the case of boxing.

"Professional boxers receive money for each match but amateur ones are prohibited from taking any money. How can such different characteristics be united?" (nvn)