Ministers expected to support athletes in SEAG

Ministers expected to support athletes in SEAG

JAKARTA (JP): After President B.J. Habibie visited the
nation's athletes being groomed for the 20th Southeast Asian
(SEA) Games, the National Sports Council (KONI) urged other
government leaders to support athletes in Brunei Darussalam next
month.

Indonesia's chef de mission for the Games, Mochammad Hindarto,
told reporters on Tuesday that ministers and top officials, many
of whom chair sports organizations, were expected to support
athletes at the biennial event from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

Among top officials expected to arrive in Bandar Seri Begawan
named by Hindarto were State Minister of the Empowerment of State
Enterprises Tanri Abeng, who is chairman of the Indonesian Tennis
Association (Pelti); Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi
Ramelan, chairman of the Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI);
Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI)
Commander Gen. Wiranto, who chairs the Indonesian Karate
Federation (Forki) and the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association
(Gabbsi).

Minister of Justice/State Secretary Muladi, and the Governor
of Indonesian Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) Lt. Gen. Agum
Gumelar, who chairs the All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI),
have confirmed plans to attend the Games.

"The SEA Games organizers have asked us to enlist the
ministers and state officials who also serve as sports
organization chairpersons. The organizers want to give the best
service for them," said Hindarto.

He said two more doctors, an orthopedist and a doping expert
would join the contingent. This is in addition to the six doctors
KONI was sending for the event.

Twenty sports are scheduled to be held at the Hassanal Bolkiah
Sports Complex in Bandar Seri Begawan. The complex consists of a
main stadium, track-and-field stadium, tennis center, indoor
badminton center, multi-purpose hall for pencak silat, squash
court, bowls field, hockey stadium and swimming pool.

Speaking on the host's preparations to welcome about 4,000
athletes and officials to the Games, Hindarto said Brunei
authorities had provided public transportation to allow athletes,
officials and journalists to travel from their hotels to sports
venues.

"Obviously they want to give the best service to their guests.
There is less public transportation operated in Brunei, because
everyone owns cars," he said. (ivy)