Games organizers told to fix problems

Games organizers told to fix problems

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport has told
organizers of the 19th SEA Games to fix their non-technical
problems and start promoting the event.

The minister's assistant, Imam Sujudi, said Tuesday: "The
organizers must work harder, and I urge them to solve all the
problems because the event is only two months away."

Imam said the organizers were well prepared for the Oct. 11 to
Oct. 19 biennial event.

"I see that Senayan Main Stadium is being renovated but the
organizers must work harder to repair all the facilities at all
the venues," he said, commenting on reports of out of order
toilets and broken water pumps.

"Athletes and spectators must feel happy, secure and
comfortable at the venues. If we can't provide this for them, how
can we call ourselves good hosts?"

Imam said he was relieved that the synthetic turf for field
hockey would be ready in time. The Rp 1.2 billion (US$457,143)
field hockey turf should be ready by the end of the month and
will be tested by the International Hockey Federation.

Late payment

Commenting on reports of late payments to health workers Imam
said he would investigate the matter.

Five officials from the Games' drug testing division
complained Monday that they had been waiting for their Rp 400,000
a month wages since April.

"We have been working for the National Sports Council since
November 1996, and we were being paid. But just several months
before the SEA Games our payments have stopped," said Dangsina
Moeloek, the drug testing division head, quoted Antara.

Dangsina said she and her colleagues were making no demands,
but wanted to know why they had not been paid.

"Some athletes, coaches and officials receive their payments
regularly, but some don't and we are not given any explanation,"
she said.

Imam said the organizers must explain the problem clearly and
solve it soon.

"I'll ask the health committee about the problem soon. I hope
it can be solved soon," he said. (yan)