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)