IOC urges RI to apply for Olympic funds
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)