PON participants decreased by 100
JAKARTA (JP): The 14th National Games (PON) organizing committee announced yesterday that the number of participating athletes has decreased by 100 from the original 5,049 athletes.
Eddy Widodo, the committee's secretary-general, told a press conference that some provinces had decided to cut their contingents due to their slim chances of winning medals in the Games, slated here between Sept. 9 and Sept. 20
"The sidelined athletes have qualified for the Games, but they are only placed at the bottom in their respective teams," Eddy said.
The quadrennial event will feature 35 medal contests plus five exhibition sports, with a total of 502 gold, 502 silver and 592 bronze medals up for grabs.
West Java will be the biggest squad among the country's 27 provincial teams, with 570 athletes who will compete in all the medal events. The province has set a target of finishing second behind defending overall title Jakarta.
Jakarta will be the second largest team, with 531 athletes who will participate in 34 sports. East Java, fielding 509 male and female athletes who will take part in 35 sports, is the third.
The exhibition sports consist of equestrian events, billiard and snooker, bridge, chess, squash and golf. They offer 25 gold medals.
Eddy said that the Senayan sports complex and other sports facilities in town will host most of the events. Only several events such as rowing, parachuting, road-race cycling and golf will take place outside Jakarta.
Eddy said that the organizers will receive Rp 3 billion (US$1.28 million) in donations from the government. The Games will cost the host Rp 28.5 billion ($12.1 million).
"As of today, we haven't heard official information, but we expect to disburse the money 30 days before the opening ceremony," Eddy said.
President Soeharto is expected to officially open the Games on Sept. 9 at the Senayan Stadium.
Eddy also revealed that the organizers have yet to name the athlete who will light the flame during the opening ceremony.
National women's archer Nurfitriyana Lantang, who is now in Atlanta for the Olympic Games, has been nominated the lighter. "We are now waiting for an approval from the National Sports Council," Eddy said. (yan)