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)