KONI defends policy on Olympic Solidarity
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.