Few legislators concerned about Sports Bill

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)