KONI chief says Arie resignation would not help

KONI chief says Arie resignation would not help

JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar yesterday indicated that he would not accept the
resignation of Indonesian contingent chief Arie Sudewo, following
Indonesia's loss of its overall title at the 18th Southeast Asian
Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Arie, who announced his intention to resign last week as
Indonesia's failure to retain the title became a foregone
conclusion, is also Wismoyo's second-in-command.

"It won't solve the problem," an unusually-taciturn Wismoyo
told The Jakarta Post at KONI headquarters.

Wismoyo had just arrived from the airport, after welcoming
home the first group of returning Indonesian sportsmen and women.
Wismoyo greeted them in a simple ceremony after their Garuda
aircraft touched down at 4 p.m.

Wismoyo said at the airport that he saw no point in Arie's
resignation, since he did not think it would improve the
country's sports performance. "Together we must sail through both
calm and stormy weather," he added.

The 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai were the worst Games ever for
Indonesia. Host Thailand scooped 157 gold medals, while Indonesia
came in a distant second, with 77 gold medals. It was Indonesia's
second defeat to Thailand after its 1985 loss in Bangkok.

Arie told the Post yesterday that it was not the right time to
make any comment on whether or not he was serious about
resigning.

"Please don't ask me that question now," said the Army
lieutenant general who described himself on Sunday as a man who
"loves sports but has no experience in managing sports".

Arie indicated that he might speak more about it at a formal
ceremony to mark the dissolving of the Indonesian SEA Games
contingent at KONI headquarters today.

Earlier, at the airport, Arie told reporters that he would
feel guilty if he did not resign. Pressed on whether he might
reconsider the move, he said he needed time to think.

Arie offered his resignation from the position of KONI deputy
chairman in a statement on Sunday, just hours before the Games'
closing ceremony. In the statement he said his resignation was a
consequence of Indonesia's inability to retain the overall title.
Arie said he made the decision without consulting with Wismoyo or
even with his wife.

Arie was responsible for the selection of the national teams
KONI sent to the just-concluded SEA Games.

KONI spokesman Ishadi told the Post that whether or not Arie
would eventually abort his term was very much dependent on
Wismoyo's decision. "But as far as I know, he has not submitted a
resignation letter to Wismoyo yet," Ishadi said.

At the airport, Wismoyo placed a garland round the neck of
female rower champ Salma Haryono of Southeast Sulawesi while
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman adorned Arie
Sudewo with another garland.

The second group was due to depart for Jakarta from Chiang Mai
at midnight.

Ishadi said that a cash bonus of Rp 25 million promised for
each Indonesian athlete who won a gold medal in Chiang Mai would
be submitted symbolically in today's contingent dissolving
ceremony. However, he was unable to explain whether an athlete
who won more than one gold medal would get the bonus multiplied
by the number of his or her gold medals.

"I hope this can be explained tomorrow," he added flatly.

"Welcome, our sports ambassadors. We remain proud of you,"
read a big banner on the facade of KONI headquarters as the
athletes, clad in indigo blue jackets with straw hats, arrived at
KONI headquarters accompanied by some Harley-Davidson riders.
Some were welcomed by their families. There were smiles and
laughter. But many seemed pensive.

"This is sports. It's impossible to always win in
competition," badminton queen Susi Susanti commented.

"Here we are, the loser. We didn't think Thailand would outdo
us by that much. They kept secret any information about their
athletes, whom they trained abroad. We, by contrast, were an open
book. Everyone could see how we trained," Sarengat said. He added
that Thailand won because it was better and because it used any
means, including dishonest practices, to get gold medals.

KONI's foreign affairs officer Rio Tambunan said he saw for
himself how the boxing referees fabricated scores in favor of
Thai boxers.

"Especially the referees from South Korea and Bangladesh," he
added. (arf)