More qualified athletes welcome for Olympics
More qualified athletes welcome for Olympics
JAKARTA (JP): The government is encouraging all athletes to
try to qualify for the national team for the Olympic Games in
July, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman said
yesterday.
"Things are still wide open for athletes who manage to improve
their performance to a new high before the Olympics," Hayono said
during a hearing with the House of Representatives' commission on
sports, education, culture and religious affairs yesterday.
Hayono was expanding President Soeharto's statement that
Indonesia should send only potential medal winners to the world's
biggest sporting meet, scheduled for July 19 to Aug. 5 in
Atlanta, Georgia.
"It is up to the National Sports Council (KONI) whether or not
to include other athletes," Hayono said.
Hayono reported to Soeharto on Thursday that Indonesia was
already set to take part in four sports in which the country has
good chances of bringing home medals. Twenty badminton players,
three women tennis players, four women archers and a boxer are
almost certain to form the nucleus of the national Olympic team.
Beach volleyball, judo, swimming, track and field, canoeing,
kayaking, rowing, weight lifting and shooting are considered
secondary sports in which Indonesia might participate.
"The sending of athletes from only the four primary sports is
not yet a fixed decision. There might still be some changes,"
Hayono said.
He said the national beach volleyball team deserves a place in
the Olympic team. "I think it has a chance of taking a medal, at
least a bronze," he said.
However, Hayono reiterated that the Olympics are not a
participation event for those who just want to get experience.
"Due to the limited funds, less competent athletes should be
barred from making an Olympic appearance," he said.
Funds
Meanwhile, Ismael Hasan, chairman of the commission, told
reporters after the hearing that the legislative body backed the
government's plan to restrict the national Olympic team to only
potential medal winners.
"The Olympic Games is a place where we go for medals, even if
they're just bronze," he said. "We cannot send a makeshift
contingent to such a big event," he added.
Hayono made it clear that in terms of funds, the government's
help to KONI will not be limitless.
"The government's budget for sports this year will not go
beyond the Rp 750 million (US$326,000) we provided for sending
athletes to the 18th Southeast Asian Games last year," he said.
"This year's budget is probably lower than that of last year
because the size of the contingent is smaller."
KONI needs Rp 5.4 billion for the national team's Olympic
preparations. American bank Citibank has agreed to finance the
sending of the national contingent to the Game, to the tune of Rp
1.6 billion.
Hayono said that the government expects Indonesian athletes to
repeat the two gold medals they won four years ago in Barcelona.
"We can't expect more because sports standards in our country
are getting worse," he said.
The centralized training for the Atlanta Games will start on
Feb. 1, giving Indonesia six months to prepare for the toughest
medal race ever. (05)