KONI defends policy on Olympic Solidarity
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Sports Council (KONI) defended on Wednesday its policy on the Olympic Solidarity program, in which it has decided the names of athletes to fill the seven slots provided by the International Olympic Council.
Each is entitled to US$10,000 (Rp 100 million), which KONI said should be used to support the athletes' preparation for the upcoming Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.
The seven recipients, who have been picked from an initial shortlist of 68, are shuttlers Hendrawan, Chandra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto, cyclists Tonton Susanto and Sugianto Setiawan, swimmer Richard Sam Bera and windsurfer Oka Sulaksana.
KONI secretary-general Rudolf Warouw, said that they had included the names, "because they have chances of winning medals at the Asian Games, which is a conditional requirement imposed by IOC".
"IOC divides its Olympic Solidarity program to global and continental commitment. Particularly for its continental program, it wants the fund to reach athletes who have medal prospects at the Asian Games," he said.
"We don't want to see program recipients going to the Asian Games only to return empty-handed. How could we then be accountable for the program funds to the IOC?", he told reporters here on Wednesday.
The media conference was held after KONI met with representatives from sports organizations to evaluate the athletes' preparation for the Asian Games, which is to be held from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.
The amount has been arranged to be handed down in four phases, the first already realized, with each receiving $2,500 through their respective training managers, according to Rudolf.
Oka, the Bali-based surfer, and Tonton, from West Java, were reported not to have received the money yet.
"They might not have been around when the money was sent to them," Rudolf, who is a training manager, commented about the athletes' complaints.
The seven athletes are among the tentative list of 160 athletes currently preparing for the Asian Games. They will compete in 19 sporting disciplines.
The initial number was 175, before the badminton association sorted out 12 from its squad and the boxing association announced three misfits of its seven candidates early this month.
Despite the fact that all the money would be sent to the athletes, Rudolf warned against using the money for personal needs.
"The money is supposed to support their preparation, including the costs incurred for overseas competitions," he said.
KONI has announced a budget of Rp 32 billion ($3.2 million) for its Asian Games commitment. Some of the money is allocated for training, which includes taking part in competitions abroad.