KONI to study Indonesia's poor showing at SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will look for reasons behind poor performances in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam this month at a special meeting on Tuesday.

KONI has invited representatives from 50 sports organizations, House Commission VII for education, religion, sport and youth affairs, KONI regional offices and staff from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

KONI's secretary-general Rudolf Warouw told reporters on Monday that the council would receive accountability reports from officials of the 20 sports organizations who took part in the Games.

"We invited the officials so we could get to the root of the problem. We hope there will be no one who will make comments before learning what really happened," he said.

He also dismissed speculation on whether KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar should resign due to Indonesia not retaining the biennial event.

"According to the regulation, KONI's members should request for an extraordinary congress before deciding whether a chairman should resign," he said.

Indonesia bowed out to archrival Thailand and overall runner- up Malaysia, taking home 44 golds, 43 silvers and 58 bronzes, which was less than its estimated 70 golds.

Wismoyo said on Monday that he would report the meeting results to State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono and President B.J. Habibie.

He added that in the future the council would focus on the training of athletes in sports featured in the Olympic Games, such as track and field, swimming and gymnastics. (ivy)