'Lack of vision leads to RI decline'
<p>'Lack of vision leads to RI decline'</p><p> JAKARTA (JP): Failure to keep focused on the vision has
resulted in Indonesia's declining performance in the Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games, which saw its contingent finish third for the
second straight time at the just concluded event in Kuala Lumpur,
a sports observer says.</p><p>"We have deviated from the very principles we held the first
time we participated in the SEA Games," Joe Rumeser, a sports
observer, told The Jakarta Post.</p><p>"The SEA Games should be considered as a stepping stone ahead
of the Asian Games."</p><p>Joe recalled the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta when Indonesia
proudly finished fourth. Never since then has the country gained
such an achievement.</p><p>"The 1962 meet should have been a reminder for us that
whatever we do in the SEA Games should be seen as a plan of
action for success at the Asian Games level," he said.</p><p>Joe further said that the failure to spread the vision
concerning competition in the SEA Games had consequently resulted
in misguided management as regards the development of national
sports.</p><p>"What I can say from Indonesian's showing at the SEA Games is
this is the result we deserved after what we have been doing for
so many years," he said.</p><p>Joe said that Indonesia used to be too ambitious in its hopes
of becoming the overall winner without paying heed to the
necessity of regeneration.</p><p>"Neither did we focus on the sports that should be given
priority in development," he said.</p><p>Many have suggested that Indonesia should focus on swimming
and athletics, both areas where there are abundant medals on
offer. Indonesia has become a third-class participant in the SEA
Games in both areas.</p><p>Joe also pointed to the problem of coaching standards, lack of
political will from the government, and the way the National
Sports Council (KONI) performed its duties.</p><p>He said KONI, the Indonesian sports management council, had
excessively interfered with the sports organizations regarding
technical matters.</p><p>However, he said that it would not be fair to point the finger
of blame solely at KONI. "It's the sports organizations which
know most about their athletes. Of course, they must be held
responsible as well," he said.</p><p>Until recently, Indonesia had dominated the SEA Games since
its debut in 1977 in Kuala Lumpur, except for 1985 and 1995 when
Thailand played host.</p><p>"Lack of preparation played the major role in ensuring our
defeat," Joe said, referring to the Indonesian contingent's
showing at the latest SEA Games.</p><p>No regular competitions in several fields, Joe said, was
testament to the poor condition of national sport.</p><p>"With regular competition stuttering, and a lack of
competitors and overseas outings, the athletes' psychological
makeup is disturbed.</p><p>"This consequently affects their confidence, thus causing them
to be unable to withstand high pressure during competition. They
are also unable to equip themselves with sound game plans." (01)</p>
resulted in Indonesia's declining performance in the Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games, which saw its contingent finish third for the
second straight time at the just concluded event in Kuala Lumpur,
a sports observer says.</p><p>"We have deviated from the very principles we held the first
time we participated in the SEA Games," Joe Rumeser, a sports
observer, told The Jakarta Post.</p><p>"The SEA Games should be considered as a stepping stone ahead
of the Asian Games."</p><p>Joe recalled the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta when Indonesia
proudly finished fourth. Never since then has the country gained
such an achievement.</p><p>"The 1962 meet should have been a reminder for us that
whatever we do in the SEA Games should be seen as a plan of
action for success at the Asian Games level," he said.</p><p>Joe further said that the failure to spread the vision
concerning competition in the SEA Games had consequently resulted
in misguided management as regards the development of national
sports.</p><p>"What I can say from Indonesian's showing at the SEA Games is
this is the result we deserved after what we have been doing for
so many years," he said.</p><p>Joe said that Indonesia used to be too ambitious in its hopes
of becoming the overall winner without paying heed to the
necessity of regeneration.</p><p>"Neither did we focus on the sports that should be given
priority in development," he said.</p><p>Many have suggested that Indonesia should focus on swimming
and athletics, both areas where there are abundant medals on
offer. Indonesia has become a third-class participant in the SEA
Games in both areas.</p><p>Joe also pointed to the problem of coaching standards, lack of
political will from the government, and the way the National
Sports Council (KONI) performed its duties.</p><p>He said KONI, the Indonesian sports management council, had
excessively interfered with the sports organizations regarding
technical matters.</p><p>However, he said that it would not be fair to point the finger
of blame solely at KONI. "It's the sports organizations which
know most about their athletes. Of course, they must be held
responsible as well," he said.</p><p>Until recently, Indonesia had dominated the SEA Games since
its debut in 1977 in Kuala Lumpur, except for 1985 and 1995 when
Thailand played host.</p><p>"Lack of preparation played the major role in ensuring our
defeat," Joe said, referring to the Indonesian contingent's
showing at the latest SEA Games.</p><p>No regular competitions in several fields, Joe said, was
testament to the poor condition of national sport.</p><p>"With regular competition stuttering, and a lack of
competitors and overseas outings, the athletes' psychological
makeup is disturbed.</p><p>"This consequently affects their confidence, thus causing them
to be unable to withstand high pressure during competition. They
are also unable to equip themselves with sound game plans." (01)</p>