KONI to empower human resources in each branch

KONI to empower human resources in each branch

JAKARTA (JP): Following complaints from its members about the
implementation of regional autonomy throughout the country, the
National Sports Council (KONI) decided to empower its human
resources in its regency and mayoralty chapters.

KONI vice chairman Arie Sudewo told a post-congress press
conference Thursday that it was important to empower human
resources in regional administrations as a part of KONI's
implementation of regional autonomy.

"We have to be realistic ... regencies and mayoralties don't
have equal financial power and human resources. KONI's officials
have to visit them more often to give guidance on how to increase
their skills," he said.

"The congress decided to create an eleven-person working group
to review and evaluate suitable types of KONI organizations to
anticipate the new developments," he added.

Arie acknowledged the possibilities of major movements of
athletes between provinces, saying it could also change the
country's existing sporting map.

"Of course there will be a change in the map but we still have
to evaluate it. We'll change it gradually while helping each
province realize its own strengths and weaknesses."

Conference chairman of KONI's three-day national congress, M.
Anwar Pasau, said that the congress had deliberated and discussed
a wide range of problems concerning Indonesian sports.

"We have to revise our statutes and regulations to absorb the
duties and tasks of the now-defunct State Minister of Youth
Affairs and Sports office. KONI must also anticipate the
enactment of regional autonomy which gives greater power to
regional administrations to take care of their own households,"
said Anwar.

"Sports training centers will move from provinces to regencies
and mayoralties. This will require more sports facilities outside
the provincial capitals."

"It also requires modifications of sports organizations at
lower levels to maintain all sports potential."

Arie said KONI must quickly submit the Sports Bill to the
House of Representatives (DPR) to be officially endorsed.

"The law will clearly state the government's and sporting
community's responsibility in developing sports and providing
facilities. Although President Abdurrahman Wahid has said it was
up to the society, the state can't walk away just like that," he
said.

Anwar said the new law would also provide better protection
and welfare to athletes.

"The law will establish that the government will look after
athletes not only during their heydays but also during
retirement. We expect athletes to feel safer and concentrate
fully on their training with such protection," he said.

"We hope there will be no more former athletes with poor life
stories after they retire."

KONI secretary general Rudolf Warouw warned that the regional
autonomy would enable wealthy regencies and mayoralties to
attract more athletes with their newly acquired money.

"Rich provinces such as Riau and East Kalimantan, will be able
to lure potential athletes from other provinces. While less
affluent regions will experience athletes-drain," he added.

Arie revealed that there was also a suggestion at the congress
to unite all amateur and professional sports under KONI's
authority.

"We are still studying the options because we already have the
Indonesian Professional Sports Board (Bapopi)," he said.

"It's only boxing and golf that have professional
organizations. Other sports, such as badminton, basketball,
soccer, and volleyball, are semi-professional but still function
under their amateur organizations." (nvn)