KONI appoints more members

KONI appoints more members

JAKARTA (JP): Despite its declaration of streamlining, the
National Sports Council (KONI) on Thursday announced its
appointment of 37 commission members to bring the number of its
officials to 64.

KONI vice chairman Arie Sudewo told a news conference the
decision was made based on a recommendation from February's
national congress.

"The recommendation says that each commission comprises three
to five people. We respect the recommendation. The number of top
KONI officials is only 27," he said.

Commissions are law, honorary sports, training, talent
scouting, sports science, education, media and public relations,
sports information systems and sports business and industry.

Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, sports expert Mangombar
Ferdinand Siregar and the north Sulawesi chapter chairman Evert
Erens Mangindaan picked the officials.

Wismoyo declined to attend the conference, saying he had
another appointment after making a speech in the first plenary
meeting with all the officials.

Arie said the council would install in less than a week a
special team in charge of the Golden Garuda project.

"The team will have to promote the project and also arrange
the long-term program to succeed the project."

The project's aim is to make Indonesia host of the 2006 Asian
Games and achieve a ranking of sixth in the medal standings.

Arie said KONI decided to start the national training program
for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in June, instead of May,
because each sport organization has been preparing its athletes
since February.

"In June, the nucleus team will be groomed in centralized
training," he said.

KONI has registered 534 athletes to compete in 20 sports at
the Aug. 7 to Aug. 15 biennial event, to be held this year in
Bandar Seri Begawan. Its goal is to retain Indonesia's overall
medal title at the event, which offers 235 gold medals in 21
sports.

The country will compete in badminton, basketball, billiards
and snooker, bowling, boxing, cycling, soccer, golf, hockey,
karate, pencak silat martial art, sepak takraw, shooting, squash,
swimming, table tennis, tae kwon do, tennis, track and field and
traditional boat racing. It will miss bowls.

Arie said the council's Rp 5 billion (US$574,710) for training
was short of the Rp 15 billion needed.

"We have asked the government for financial help but it will
answer our request by the end of this month," he said.

The council officials will be installed by President B.J.
Habibie at the State Palace on Monday. The council also plans to
include best male and female athletes, best coach and best
official -- to be announced on Friday evening live on state
television network TVRI -- at the ceremony. (yan)