Old problems haunt PON

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.