KONI told to hurry its Games budget

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman urged the National Sports Council yesterday to report on its preparations for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok as soon as possible.

"If the council reports its preparations soon, we can try to include the finance in the 1998/1999 State Budget. Based on the procedure, it maybe late but since this is a special priority I think we can suggest it in the State Budget," Hayono told reporters at his residence yesterday.

"The council should arrange the Games budget and we'll see how much can be financed by the State Budget and how many sports organizations can finance themselves. Organizations which are unable to finance themselves, will be prioritized."

Hayono said the Rp 15 billion (US$4.58 million) from the State Budget which is used to develop sports in the provinces should not be used to finance the Indonesian Asian Games contingent.

He also said the council had full authority to decide which sports to contest.

Last week, the council announced 16 sports it was considering contesting in the quadrennial event. They are badminton, weight lifting, fencing, track and field, cycling, karate (only kata division), surfing, archery, gymnastics, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, beach volleyball, boxing, judo and rowing.

Hayono said the council must select sports in which Indonesia will get at least a bronze medal.

"For some athletes, the Asian Games will give them more experience to compete better in future international multisports events," he said.

Citing an example, Hayono said Indonesian archers, who only won one gold and three silvers in the just-concluded SEA Games, should not be sent to the Games.

"But considering our glory in the 1988 Olympics when we won a silver, we need to consider sending archers to the Asian Games."

However, Hayono urged the Indonesian Archery Association to take on board all input and disregard all personal interests which might hinder the sport's development.

"The officials must resolve their internal conflict before improving their training program. Even though they are to contract a foreign coach, I think it'll be useless due to the conflict," he said.

Several months before the SEA Games started, the archers went on strike because they could not abide their strict coach.

Hayono said Indonesia also had good chances in the Asian Games in swimming and gymnastics.

"I think the Indonesian Swimming Association will be able to send several swimmers to the Olympics in 10 years. Besides, the association does not need financial assistance from the council in sending its athletes to international competition," he said.

"But we still have to develop gymnastics in schools throughout Indonesia," he added.

Hayono said the council's statement not to send the national soccer team to the Asian Games was reasonable.

"Our results in international events have not been very good lately. Our team is still below South Korea, Japan, China, Middle Eastern countries and ex-Soviet Union states. We may have to wait a long time to see our team reach a high position in the world," he said.

Hayono said he did not agree with the Indonesian Soccer Association's plan to stage a long-term training program for the Asian Games.

"The soccer players must train in the national league instead of having a long-term training camp. The association needs to improve the quality of domestic competition as a fundamental of its training," he said.

Hayono said the association would pay the US$69,000 in outstanding referees' allowances during the SEA Games.

"We must just wait for the Games consortium, which is responsible for financing the Games, to pay the money," he said.

The Asian Football Confederation told the association to pay the allowances in four weeks or else face an unspecified punishment. (yan)