KONI given greater authority over sports

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)