Mahadi sees four problems in sports development

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela said on Tuesday fund-raising remained a major impediment to developing sports in the country.

"Our large companies have yet to show an interest in participating in the development of sports. Only cigarette companies have invested their money to sponsor national sports events," Mahadi said during the closing ceremony of the national coordinating meeting for youth affairs and sports at Sahid Jaya Hotel in Central Jakarta.

"Sponsors will be interested in staging an event if it involves a lot of spectators. That's why it's easier for soccer match organizers to get sponsors than chess competition organizers," he said with a laugh.

Mahadi said developing sports must be a community effort. "If the community cannot solve the problems in sports development, particularly in raising funds, then it will be the government's responsibility to take over the problems and find the solutions.

"However, the current government also faces problems raising funds. If the sports community needs funds from the government, then it has to wait."

He also said his office must concentrate on promoting public sports, including jogging and light exercise.

"Athletes performing in international events are the National Sports Council's responsibility. Our main responsibility is to make sports a part of the people's lives," he said.

One way to achieve this is to build multifunction sports fields in each district, he said.

"Some districts already have the fields. However, they need certification confirming that the fields belong to the city administration. Otherwise, when the district's mayor or regent is replaced, the fields can be used for their own benefit.

"If we can start this small program, I believe that in the future sports will be a part of Indonesians' lives and we will have no problem finding young talents," he said.

Mahadi also pointed to a dearth of gym teachers as another obstacle to developing sports.

"The government must overcome the most basic and important problem of a lack of gym teachers. Based on reports, Indonesia needs more gym teachers from the elementary to high school levels," he said. "We have held discussions with the Ministry of National Education on how to cope with the problem."

During the ceremony, Mahadi also urged support for his office's provincial chapters.

"If (provincial) administrations don't throw their weight behind the chapters' programs, then we won't have any budget to develop athletes in the provinces because the programs will be financed by the provinces' budgets."

On the 1997 Southeast Asian Games underwriting consortium's debt to the government, Mahadi said he preferred the case be brought to court.

"If the consortium still has assets, I think the court can take over the assets. They must return the money they took from the government." (yan)