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)