Indonesian athletes expected to have sense of duty

JAKARTA (JP): The 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games training director, Imron ZS, expressed hope on Monday that athletes would understand their responsibility to meet the high expectations of the public because it financed their efforts.

"They (athletes) are using the people's money from the preparation through to the competition. They must be responsible for it. If the government used the money to eradicate poverty, how many people would be helped?"

The National Sports Council (KONI) plans to hold a send-off ceremony at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday. About 250 orphans will be invited to enjoy the evening with the athletes and officials.

"We want to share our happiness with the orphans by inviting them to the ceremony and to enjoy the dinner. We will ask them to pray for our athletes' success in the Games," Imron said.

The ceremony also will feature artists Neno Warisman, Renny Djajusman and KLA Project.

"They are artists who are concerned with sports so they are performing for free," Imron said.

KONI will spend about Rp 21.5 million (US$3,200) for the send- off.

"Most of the budget is to provide dinner and cash gifts of Rp 10,000 each for the orphans and T-shirts for them," Imron said.

KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar will attend the ceremony after his scheduled 1:30 p.m. return from the United States on Tuesday.

Wismoyo received an honoris causa doctor from the United States Sports Academy in Alabama on Friday.

Indonesia's contingent departs on two flights on Wednesday, with the first flight at 6:30 a.m. and the second at 3 p.m.

Imron said he requested that national carrier Garuda Indonesia open a special gate for the contingent because they would be carrying a lot of equipment and luggage.

"It's not only for our own convenience but also for other passengers because we are flying from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport," he said.

Imron named veteran boxer Albert Papilaya as the contingent's flag bearer during the opening ceremony on Saturday.

Pencaksilat athletes Ni Made Supadmi and Abas Akbar, karateka Umar Syarief and golfer Titi Puryanti will wear traditional costumes in the parade of national contingents. Imron declined to mention what kind of costumes they would wear. (yan)