More events the better for PON, KONI says

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar says the council is open to as many sports as possible being held at the 15th National Games (PON) next year because the event is aimed at uniting the nation.

Speaking after installing local KONI officials for a five-year term here on Wednesday, Wismoyo said 36 sports organizations had registered for the Games, to be held in Surabaya, East Java.

"We welcome any sport which wants to participate in PON," he said.

Several events like climbing, diving, softball and squash are struggling to gain acceptance to the Games. Wismoyo has yet to give his nod to their involvement.

He said the Games would stick to its mission of national unity.

"PON will return to its mission of national unity and not as the place to gain achievements. The people should avoid national disintegration," he said.

Wismoyo believed sports could motivate citizens to improve their "character".

"Many Indonesians have weak characters. If they win, they are arrogant, but if they lose, they run amok," said the four-star general who is a former Army Chief of Staff.

He said Indonesia's standing in sports in the Asian region declined from a second-place medal finish at the 1962 Asian Games to 11th last year.

He blamed the decline on a lack of sports training in colleges and universities.

"No sports lessons are taught in the colleges, although basically it does not disturb the students' activities." He said Stanford University in the United States trained 20 students annually to become national athletes.

Officials inducted on Wednesday included chairman Harun Al Rasyid, who is the governor of West Nusa Tenggara, executive chairman H. Pattekai, deputy chairmen H.M. Nur Nasution and Nanang Samodra, secretary-general Soenarto and treasurer Danang Joyo.(49/ivy)