SEA Games training program joined by 884 athletes

JAKARTA (JP): A total of 884 athletes have joined the national training program as preparation for the 19th SEA Games here in October, the Games' training chief Togi Hutagaol said Thursday.

Twenty-two foreign and 143 local coaches have also joined the training, which began in November.

The National Sports Council expects 240 more athletes and 49 coaches to arrive for training in the first week of March.

But Togi said the council is facing accommodation problems due to their arrival.

"The Century Park Athlete Hotel could not accommodate them all. We're still thinking of booking another hotel or renting houses around the Senayan sports complex," he said.

The number of athletes do not include rowers, who practice and stay at the Jatiluhur dam, weightlifters who practice in Lampung, and spikers who practice at their dormitory in Sentul, Bogor, West Java.

Five sports organizations have sent their athletes for overseas stints. The Indonesian Track and Field Association has sent six athletes to Houston, USA and Australia, and the Indonesian Golf Association has sent its athletes to Australia.

The Indonesian Swimming Association has sent its swimmers to Australia, Singapore and the USA, the Indonesian Table Tennis Association has sent its athletes to China and the Indonesian Waterskiing Association has sent its athletes to the USA.

The council hoped that starting from March, it will not face any problems with athletes' permission from their schools or offices.

"The council has sent letters to the minister of education and culture, the minister of manpower, the Armed Forces chief and governors of 27 provinces to help athletes' permission," Togi said.

Togi said national female basketballers are expected to arrive this week to start their training with coach Huang Chang Yu of China.

The women's soccer team and the men's water polo squad are expected to begin training early next month. (yan)