IOC urges RI to apply for Olympic funds
JAKARTA (JP): The International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative Michel Filliau urged the National Sports Council (KONI) to prepare its four-year planning and strategy for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games to secure the Olympic Solidarity scholarship.
"IOC allocates some US$320 million for the four-year period prior to the Athens Olympics, from 2001 until 2004, for a worldwide coverage of the program," Filliau told a press conference Wednesday.
"KONI only has to explain its programs and strategies for the four-year period to get the scholarship. And of course the recipients must have certain sport achievements."
Filliau, IOC's manager of administration and services at the National Olympic Committee (NOC) relations department, has been invited by KONI to attend its three-day national congress in Senayan.
There are 20 world and 10 continental programs in the scholarship designed to help NOCs prepare their national team and athletes for Olympic Games.
The program is divided into two categories. The first category is for those who will compete in the Olympics while the second is directed at young promising athletes.
KONI's official responsible for the Olympic Solidarity program, Mochammad Moeslim, told the conference that KONI would have to submit its proposal and nominees in early 2002.
"The scholarship will be disbursed two years before the Olympics. Therefore, I urge sports organizations to prepare their proposals and nominees because IOC will not accept any late entries."
He was referring to the fact that Indonesia's proposal was rejected because it was two days late prior to the Atlanta 1996 Olympics. Indonesia had nominated five shuttlers and a windsurfer.
Moeslim said several Indonesian athletes -- Candra Wijaya, Deyana Lomban, Sri Indriyani, Taufik Hidayat and Wynne Prakusya -- had benefited from the program prior to the Sydney Olympics.
"Each athlete received US$1200 a month to cover expenses including coaches, equipment, and insurance coverage."
Candra won a gold in the badminton men's doubles with partner Tony Gunawan while Sri earned a bronze in the women's 48kgs weightlifting division.
Good impressions
Fillau also visited the Senayan Sports Complex and Jakarta's anti-doping laboratory during his two-day visit.
"It was impressing to know that Indonesia has such a sport city occupying zone like Senayan Sports Complex. I hope Indonesia can fully optimize the complex for international multisport events," he said.
On the anti-doping laboratory, owned by the Jakarta city administration, he commended it as 'of very high level'.
"It shows that anti-doping policy is already part of the global sports policy in this country. IOC fully supports such policy."
"The laboratory has a great chance to receive IOC's official accreditation for its quality and technicality. It has received temporary accreditation several times and its staff also took part in the Sydney Olympics's anti-doping laboratory."
Fillau urged Indonesia to apply for official accreditation.
"I've been told by KONI's head of Sports Science Center, Dr. Carmen Jahya, that the laboratory will apply for the accreditation next year. The laboratory must be ready to be tested and monitored to meet IOC's standards."
"The whole process can take one or two years to complete. But I'm sure the laboratory will pass." (nvn)