KONI allows Olympic-qualified athletes in PON

JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) deputy secretary- general Hussein Argasasmita said on Wednesday athletes qualified for the 2000 Olympics would be allowed to compete in the 15th National Games (PON), with some conditions.

"Some sports organizations have indicated that their athletes will compete in PON, but we require (the athletes) to compete only in the discipline they will compete in at the Olympics," he said.

Citing an example, Hussein said women's sprinter Irene Joseph could only run the 100 and 200 meters at PON, while men's swimmer Richard Sam Bera would only be allowed to compete in the 50 and 100 meters freestyle.

"The Indonesian Archery Association assured us that their programs in PON would be exactly the same as their Olympics program," he said.

"The Indonesian Yachting and Windsurfing Association said men's windsurfer Oka Sulaksana, who has qualified for the Olympics, can compete in PON as long as it won't disturb his overseas training in Australia.

"But I think it might be better for him to skip PON because we fear the possibility of injury if he competes in PON," Hussein said.

Later on Wednesday, KONI official in charge of organization Putera Astaman said three provinces had made bids to host PON in 2004.

"The three provinces are North Sumatra, South Sumatra and Central Java. KONI will visit West Java in mid-January," he said.

Putera said KONI would judge the three bids based on the support from local residents and the provincial administration for PON, the province's budget and the availability of sports venues and accommodation.

"We'll also observe preparations for transportation, security, health and the province's experience in staging huge national events," he said.

Also, KONI plans to hold a national games for the disabled one week following the 2004 PON. (yan)