Sport bodies receive Rp 600m aid

Sport bodies receive Rp 600m aid

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono
Isman yesterday handed over financial aid worth Rp 600 million
(US$263,852) to sports organizations in 10 provinces, the
Indonesian Aero Sports Association and a badminton training
center in Bandung.

"The main objective of extending the aid is to arouse the
public's interest in sports. At present, less than three percent
of the community are really active in sports. This is
regrettable," Hayono said.

However, he warned the aid recipients of any misuse of the
funds for unnecessary sports projects, such as constructing a new
soccer stadium.

"Be wise in managing the funds," Hayono told the aid
recipients, adding that communities in certain regions have a
very strong interest in sports but lack inadequate sports
facilities.

He noted that the government had also planned to extend
financial help to beef up the development of priority sports,
the sports Indonesians excel in or most popular sports among
Indonesians, such as badminton, soccer, archery and boxing.

In the first instance, the funds should be used for talent
scouting and promoting sports in the community," Hayono said.

On the same occasion, Hayono also reminded the national team
for the 18th Southeast Asian Games in December of a hard-fought
struggle to retain its overall title.

"Experience in the 1985 SEA Games in Thailand where we lost
our overall championship title shows that it's going to be hard
for us to top the medals tally this year," Hayono said. The
games, slated for Dec. 7 to Dec. 19, will take place in Chiang
Mai, Thailand.

Hayono said that the fact that Indonesian athletes finished
poorly at the just concluded Asian Track and Field Championships
was another strong indication that Indonesia may fail to shine at
the upcoming Games.

"Indonesian athletes who passed through the qualifying rounds
clocked longer than their Malaysian or Thai counterparts," said
the minister. (arf)