Indonesian Olympic team to get help from experts
Indonesian Olympic team to get help from experts
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council will recruit the
country's best experts to help Indonesia's Olympic team draw up
an effective training program.
Suhantoro, deputy director of the council's Center for Sports
Science, said yesterday that no less than 20 experts will be
invited for a meeting at the end of this month to propose a
detailed program aimed at maximizing the performance of
Indonesian athletes at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
"The team will be made up of physicians, psychologists,
dietitians, medical sports experts and other related
specialists," Suhantoro said.
He said coaches will apply the formulated scientific training
methods in the remaining four months under full supervision by a
team of experts.
Suhantoro, who compared the planned team of experts with
Pentagon's think tank, claimed that it will be the first time in
history that an Indonesian team for an international sporting
event is fully supported by scholars from various universities.
"We learned a lot from the Southeast Asian Games in Chiang
Mai, in which many coaches drew up makeshift programs but boasted
that their athletes would win medals," Suhantoro said.
He said that if the expert team concept proves successful in
this trial, the council will apply it in future events, including
the 19th SEA Games here next year.
Suhantoro said that around 80 athletes are currently in a
centralized training program for the Olympics this July. He said
that only 40 athletes are expected to be eligible for the
Olympics after medical and scientific screening.
Athletes who have been nominated to represent Indonesia in
Atlanta will undergo a fitness test before starting the
scientific training stint early next month.
The sports council has given priority to badminton players,
boxers, women's tennis players and women's archers to form the
Indonesian Olympic team due to their medal winning prospects.
Beach volleyball, judo, swimming, track and field, rowing,
weight lifting and shooting are considered secondary sports in
which Indonesia might participate.
The council will announce the definite team line-up in June.
(amd)