Minister urges KONI to discuss Asiad bidding with Malaysia

Minister urges KONI to discuss Asiad bidding with Malaysia

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung
Laksono urged the National Sports Council (KONI) to sit down with
Malaysia to discuss their bids for the 2006 Asian Games.

Agung said after meeting with KONI chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar and vice chairman Arie Sudewo at his office on
Thursday it would be better for the two countries to come
together and discuss their bids in a show of ASEAN spirit. ASEAN
is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which both
countries are members.

"I hope Malaysia is willing to show the ASEAN spirit by
featuring in their bid sports in which Indonesia has an
opportunity to win gold medals, which would allow us to support
their bid. Failing this, they should officially withdraw from the
bidding.

"But if Malaysia fails to show this spirit, I think we must
fight to win the bid," he said.

Indonesia will face Malaysia, Qatar, Syria, India, Hong Kong
and Uzbekistan in its bid to host the 2006 Asiad. The host
country will be named during the Olympics Committee of Asia
executive meeting in October next year.

Agung said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad asked
President B.J. Habibie during their meeting in Kuala Lumpur
earlier this month to reconsider Indonesia's bid for the Asiad
and throw its support behind Malaysia.

During the meeting, Mohammad expressed Malaysia's desire not
to compete against Indonesia in the bidding, preferring instead
to have Indonesia's support in a show of ASEAN unity.

Agung also said the Indonesian sports community must be
realistic in view of the country's current economic turmoil.

"I think the new government, which will be elected in the
General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in early
November, will prioritize economic recovery. Maybe we'll start to
pay attention to other aspects of life, including sports, in
2006," he said.

Agung also urged KONI to pay more attention to its athlete
development programs in order to climb back to the top of the
athletics ladder in the 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala
Lumpur.

Agung also said the government was giving KONI the green light
to continue its training programs for the 2000 Olympic Games in
Sydney, Australia.

"We will wait and see how our relationship with Australia
develops. If it gets worse, and hopefully it won't, we have
several options. First, we will ask for a security guarantee from
the Sydney Olympic Games Organizing Committee for our athletes.
Second, we will send a very limited number of athletes.

"But if diplomatic ties between Indonesia and Australia are
frozen, we won't send a contingent to the Olympics," he said.

Agung said there was the possibility Indonesia would send a
team of athletes to Australia to take part in a duel meet in an
effort to improve ties between the two nations, which were
damaged by Australia's criticism of Indonesia for its handling of
violence in East Timor. (yan)