SEAG training program in May

SEAG training program in May

JAKARTA (JP): With only four months to go, the National Sports
Council (KONI) will start its national training program for the
20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in early May at the latest.

KONI vice chairman, Arie Sudewo, said KONI was unable to stage
the training earlier due to the change over from old officials to
new ones.

"I don't think it's too late. We only have three months to
stage the training so we have to work harder. Some sports
organizations started their training in February, including
tennis, badminton, boxing, swimming, karate, judo and tae kwon
do," he said.

KONI plans to enlist 534 athletes from 20 sports for the
biennial event, staged for the first time by Brunei Darussalam in
August.

Indonesia aims to retain its overall title by competing in 20
sports at the Games, which offer 235 gold medals in 21 sports.
The 20 sports are badminton, basketball, billiards and snooker,
bowling, boxing, cycling, soccer, golf, hockey, karate, pencak
silat martial art, sepak takraw, shooting, squash, swimming,
table tennis, tae kwon do, tennis, track and field and
traditional boat racing. Indonesia will skip bowls.

KONI needs about Rp 15 billion (US$1.72 million) to stage the
centralized training.

"But we only have about Rp 5 billion left over from our
economizing during our stay in Bangkok for the Asian Games and
also from our routine budget," Arie said, adding that he had no
idea how to raise the funds in such a short time.

KONI chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, is scheduled to chair his
first plenary meeting with new officials on Thursday.

"I think Pak Wismoyo will give detailed instructions on many
things, including the SEA Games training program," Arie said.

Arie also said that KONI had sent a letter of intent to bid as
host for the 2006 Asian Games.

"We realize that we are facing a tough challenge from
Malaysia, India and the United Arab Emirates. Although they have
been campaigning, bidding does not open until December 2000. We
still have time to prepare our proposals," he said.

The new KONI officials are scheduled to be installed by
President BJ Habibie on Monday at the State Palace. A national
congress in February reelected Wismoyo as chairman for a second
term until 2003. (yan)