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)