'Sports city' still distant dream

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Any hopes of turning Jakarta into a "sports city" will remain little more than dreams if the city administration does not provide adequate infrastructure.

University of Indonesia sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo said during a seminar titled "Jakarta as a sports city" on Wednesday that in reality sports infrastructure in the capital was still very limited.

"Therefore, I would suggest that the administration provides sports facilities for badminton, tabletennis, for example, in every subdistrict," he said as quoted by Antara.

Imam said that providing such facilities at the community level would encourage wider public participation in sport.

Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said the government's role must be limited to that a facilitator and regulator of sports development.

He pointed out that the country's political parties needed to include sports development in their manifestos.

"Parties must show concern for sports development. Without this, the legislators in the House of Representatives might just as well omit sports from the State Budget. In reality, however, budgetary funding is very important for sports development," he said.

According to Fauzi, the private sector must also become involved in the issue.

"Thus far, they always think that they have to give away money whenever someone mentions sports development. It shouldn't be that way," he said. "They could advise KONI and the government on how to market sport in attractive ways."