National Games to have more medal events in 1996

National Games to have more medal events in 1996

JAKARTA (JP): An extended 1996 National Games (PON) has been
proposed as nine sports sought permission from the National
Sports Council to make their debut at Indonesia's biggest
sporting event.

"It is certain that the 14th PON next year will see more
events, but we have to hold discussions with a view to agreeing
on a reasonable increase," said M. Hindarto, on behalf of the
National Sports Council, during a meeting with top officials of
sport organizations yesterday.

Hindarto said that beach volleyball, billiards, bridge, chess,
equestrian events, golf, motocross, scuba diving and roller
skating had all applied for admission to the Games. "We will have
announced the new events by the end of this month," said
Hindarto.

KONI has thrown its weight behind the applications of those
sports which might assist the development of national athletes
for international events, such as the Olympic Games, the Asian
Games and the Southeast Asian Games.

Golf and equestrian events have been chosen as new Asian Games
medal events, while beach volleyball will be introduced in the
1996 Olympics.

Hindarto said that all 29 sports represented in the last PON
two years ago would remain.

However, he warned that the organizers of the 14th PON would
have to solve the accommodation problems caused by the increasing
number of participating athletes. The committee is expecting
4,460 sportsmen and women from the country's 27 provinces to
attend the National Games.

Organizing committee chairman Surjadi Soedirdja told a hearing
with KONI last week that the PON would cost the organizers Rp
26.5 billion (around US$12 million). Surjadi said that the
organizers had predicted a Rp 3 billion ($1.35 million) deficit.
(amd)