KONI told to hurry its Games budget

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)