RI failures in sports lamented
RI failures in sports lamented
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto expressed concern yesterday over Indonesia's performance in sports, citing as an example the national contingent's poor showing at the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima last year.
Opening the seventh national congress of the National Sports Council (KONI) at the State Palace, Soeharto urged the leaders of all sports organizations to do their utmost to improve the nation's sports performance.
"We are really concerned that, apart from one or two sports branches in which we have achieved world-class performance, our records in many other sports branches are still far behind those of other countries," Soeharto told about 600 high-ranking KONI officials from all over Indonesia.
KONI was established in 1966 by presidential decree as the umbrella organization for all sports and sports-related organizations in the country. There are now about 50 associations and organizations under its supervision and it has chapters in each of Indonesia's 27 provinces.
Soeharto said that Indonesia's sporting shortcomings were especially apparent at the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima last October, where Indonesia finished 11th with only three gold medals, 12 silver medals and 11 bronze medals.
"Improving sports performance is a great task that should involve all parties -- the athletes, sports organizations, the people and the government," the President pointed out.
He said the sports associations should act as the vanguard in raising the nation's sports performance.
"Sports associations should be at the forefront, increasing their organizational capacity so that they will be able to improve the quality of their athletes," Soeharto added.
He asked KONI to use science and technology in developing sports as experience had shown that the countries which have succeeded in achieving high performance in sports were those which had applied science and technology to sports development.
Withdrawal
Meanwhile, the contest for the new chairman of KONI was virtually over yesterday, with incumbent KONI chairman Surono withdrawing his candidacy, leaving General Wismoyo Arismunandar as the strongest candidate.
Only a few weeks ago, Surono had said he was willing to continue to lead the sports organization provided the conference re-elected him.
Surono said yesterday that holding the KONI chairmanship for two consecutive five-year terms had been enough, adding that the organization's leadership required regeneration.
The outgoing chairman commended Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wismoyo Arismunandar, formerly three-time chairman of the Indonesian Judo Association, as the most qualified to take over from him.
"I think he is a good candidate. He has succeeded in setting up an international judo training center. I support him," Surono told reporters, "I hope my resignation will help the congress run smoothly."
Surono added that difficult tasks awaited his successor but that that was not the reason for his withdrawal.
"My task has been completed," he said.
Surono acknowledged that there had been many shortcomings and mistakes during his tenure, as was apparent from "our limited ability to produce good results."
Shortcomings included lack of nationwide athlete scouting and training methods and insufficient sports facilities, he said.
He also conceded that the performance of Indonesian athletes at the Asian Games in Hiroshima had been disappointing, acknowledging that it represented "a decline from our previous performance".
In response to Surono's resignation, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman praised Surono as "a man who does not seek status but who really cares about the national interest."
Hayono said that Surono's statements reflected his personal view and should not be taken as the congress' view.
Hayono also considered General Wismoyo, who will retire from the Army next month, as an able sports leader who would be capable of firing athletes' spirits.
Wismoyo's candidacy was supported by the leaders of most sports associations, including Azwar Anas, chairman of the All Indonesia Soccer Association, who is also Minister of Public Welfare; Kusnan Ismukanto, chairman of KONI's Jakarta chapter; and Bob R.E. Nasution, vice chairman of the Indonesian Motorsports Association.
Some of KONI's provincial representatives, including A.H. Fabanyo of Irian Jaya, Willem Muntu of North Sulawesi and Soegijono of Central Java also threw their weight behind Wismoyo.
They all welcomed Surono's decision to step down as a wise decision. (arf)