Old problems haunt PON

As expected, the opening of the 2004 National Games (PON) on Thursday night in Palembang by President Megawati Soekarnoputri was warmly welcomed by the sports community and locals, although a few eyebrows were raised at the appearance of some old faces in the quadrennial event.

This year, about 7,000 athletes from 30 provinces will compete in 41 events.

To the organizers' credit, it must be said that Palembang, the provincial capital of South Sumatra and this year's host city, won its race against time to construct new sports facilities for the event.

On the other hand, the hustle and bustle of the extravaganza was marred by complaints from the press about the poor media center and the organizers' unwillingness, or incapability, to provide the necessary information and results on each sporting event -- crucial for the media battling to meet their own deadlines.

Among the few lesser events worth noting as PON began: Newly crowned Olympics medalist Taufik Hidayat stumbled in the first round of the badminton men's singles, even before PON opened, while veteran gymnast Jonathan Sianturi took a gold.

These events raise the cliche question: What is wrong with sports development in this country?

As a national event, PON is expected to produce winners who can represent Indonesia in international meets. It is meant to serve as a practice arena for athletes aiming to reach higher levels, such as the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Asian Games and the greatest sporting event of all: the Olympics.

PON is not a stage for those who have already attained high standing, but a launchpad for junior athletes.

If only this objective was implemented properly, Indonesia would not find it so difficult to promote talented youths in many sporting events, particularly in the two offering the most gold medals: track and field and swimming.

Unfortunately, many provincial chapters of the National Sports Council (KONI) insist on continuing to send their -- and the country's -- best athletes, and richer provincial chapters vie with each other to "buy" athletes one year before PON to compete for them and improve their medal chances.

The sports community and its observers have criticized such practices, but since no measures have been taken and no legal grounds are available for their prevention, the practices continue unchecked.

Meanwhile, a lack of local competitions in most sports -- due to lax sponsorship and financing shortages -- is holding back the nation's sports development.

Without regular competitions at schools and clubs, and at the provincial and national levels, it is impossible to monitor the progress in sports development.

This combination of factors lead to what is happening today in Indonesian sports.

The recently concluded 2004 Athens Olympics showed Indonesia way down at 48th in the medal tally, having won only one gold, one silver and two bronzes -- poorer than the country's achievement four years ago, when our athletes brought home one gold, three silvers and two bronzes. Even at the SEA Games, Indonesia tails Thailand and Malaysia.

Obviously, some action must be taken immediately, an action that involves all relevant parties, from the president-elect of the upcoming Sept. 20 runoff, to new legislators, businesspeople, the sports community and the public.

Development efforts at the grassroots level must be undertaken without delay, starting with the nurturing of talent at elementary and secondary schools and advancing to holding regular competitions at the provincial and national levels, seeking sponsorship and providing welfare incentives and benefits to athletes after their heyday. All these are crucial issues that have yet to be addressed properly.

Even the Sports Bill, which ensures the welfare of athletes and regulates national sports development, remains in draft form at the House of Representatives.

Enough complaints about Indonesia's underdeveloped sports sector have been aired. Unless something is done, the country will be left standing on the sidelines, wondering when they will be able to get out on the field and score achievements similar to those its neighbors are already making.