KONI to maintain training organization

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Olympic training director Arie Sudewo told reporters on Friday that the National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar would maintain the structural organization of officials until 2002.

Arie, who is also KONI vice chairman, was appointed the director early this week, while Wismoyo leads the training project. Both are responsible for training programs for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney in September and the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.

KONI will start its centralized training program on Feb. 1.

"Pak Wismoyo insists on having the same organization until the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea. However, he wants to see national athletes' achievements in the 2001 SEA Games," he said after a meeting to select the members of the organization.

Wismoyo will be responsible for the national contingent's achievements in both events to the government and people.

Arie said KONI would not set up a special team to seek financial support.

"KONI will be in charge of raising funds for training preparations," he said, adding that the council would continue asking for a Rp 4.9 billion (US$671,233) budget from the government.

KONI estimated that it would need a total of Rp 6.9 billion for preparations. It received Rp 2 billion in donations from the Gelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS).

It also aims to better its athletes' achievements in the Olympics and reclaim the overall champion title in the 2001 Games. In the 1999 Games in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia finished third after Thailand and Malaysia.

Arie said KONI was still waiting for suggestions from its members before deciding to pick members for the organization. He also said the number of members could be adjusted based on the criteria of the multisport events to compete in.

"We may add more staff to the organization for SEA Games preparations because there will be hundreds of athletes to compete in the regional event. But the number can be reduced for training preparations for the Olympics as we might be only sending 40 athletes," he said. (ivy)