PON to be held earlier in 1996

JAKARTA (JP): The national sports governing body (KONI) has decided to move up the 14th National Games a year earlier to 1996, since Indonesia will be busy with the general election and the Southeast Asian Games it is to host in 1997.

"KONI will decide the schedule for the National Games during its national congress in January next year," KONI secretary general Kahpi Suriadirdja said yesterday.

The next quadrennial National Games was originally due to be held here in 1997, when Indonesia has its turn to play host to the SEA Games as well as its sixth general election since 1971.

The National Games was initiated in 1948 in Surakarta, Central Java. The Games toured around the archipelago before the government named Jakarta the permanent host in 1977. (amd)