KONI given greater authority over sports
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has greater authority to formulate policies on competitive sports development as a result of the dissolution of the state ministry of youth affairs and sports last month.
KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar and national education minister Yahya Muhaimin told a media conference on Wednesday that sport development responsibilities in the country would be jointly shared between the national education ministry and KONI, with the latter focusing on competitive sports and the ministry on popular ones.
"KONI will handle all operational and policy making activities on competitive sports. It has also submitted a demand to be placed under my ministry," Yahya said.
The state minister of state administrative reforms office issued a letter dated Aug. 30 saying that the defunct state ministry of youth affairs and sports was merged into the national education ministry.
"The ministry's directorate general of extra curriculum education, youth affairs and sports, or any other directorate general to be created, will only assist KONI's activities," Yahya said.
Wismoyo said: "KONI now has its own authority on competitive sports. The situation is completely different when we were under the supervision of the state minister of youth affairs and sports office. Now KONI can make its own policies and also implement and evaluate them."
"KONI was only following policies on competitive sports as stated by the government in a 1984 presidential decree."
Wismoyo urged the government to draft a law on sports to give KONI a firmer legal base and greater authority on competitive sports, including the right to manage its own budget.
Yahya also said his ministry would retain its duties of handling public and traditional sports and recruiting school- and university-based athletes.
"Basically, sports development in my ministry is aimed more to keep the students healthy and for entertainment and recreation. However, we'll also pay attention to talented young athletes," he said.
"We'll keep our current activities of talent scouting and developing youngsters in the Ragunan sports school and students training centers," he added, while saying it would be KONI's responsibility to spur the athletes to better performances and achievements. (nvn)