Sports law suggested for improved performance

JAKARTA (JP): A comprehensive sports law will be necessary to help boost Indonesia's sportsmen and women to achieve better results and to regulate all sports-related issues.

Golkar legislator Ferdiansyah, of the House of Representatives Commission VI overseeing religious and human resources affairs, told reporters on Friday: "The law will regulate four main issues; the share of responsibility between government and society, sports institutions, the reward and punishment procedures and other supporting matters."

"The law will only provide general guidelines, as more detailed regulations will be arranged by government regulations or presidential decrees."

"Currently we are still collecting feedback from the sports profession and other related agencies in order to gain a wider perspective."

"Officials of the tax and excise directorate general, for example, said they would study the possibility of providing tax incentives to large companies that make substantial contributions to sport."

"They will also study the possibility of freeing income tax for athletes' prize money," Ferdiansyah said, adding that the law would not cite the amount designated for reduction.

The commission is deliberating a sports bill which is expected by the end of this year.

He also said members of the sports profession desperately needed the law particularly since the government dismissed the state minister of youth affairs and sports office.

"The government established a new sports directorate general under the national education ministry to take over the minister's office job. But we must know about the different roles of authority and responsibility between the directorate general and the National Sports Council (KONI)."

The directorate general will handle students sports activities in cooperation with KONI in order to achieve better results.

Director general of sport, Toho Cholik Mutohir, said his main priority was the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games that is due to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Sept. 8 to Sept. 17.

"There are also other important issues but our participation in the SEA Games is our top priority to raise national pride at the moment," he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency on Thursday.

"My main concern is how to fulfill the SEA Games budget. I need to have a meeting with KONI to get a clearer view on it before reporting to Minister Muhaimin Yahya."

"I don't know where the money will come from to cover the SEA Games budget but I expect KONI has already secured sources," said Cholik who is also rector of the State University of Surabaya. He further added that he wanted to turn sport into a business activity in Indonesia.

KONI needs Rp 67 billion (US$6.7 million) to finance Indonesia's preparation for the Games but, up until today, it has only managed to collect Rp 10 billion including an unconfirmed Rp 5 billion donation from Gelora Bung Karno Management Board.

Meanwhile, KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar expected Cholik to continue the ambitious long-term Golden Garuda project aimed at supporting athletes' development until 2006.

"The new director should acquire first-hand information on the movement because it involves many students throughout the country from the Students Training Center (PPLP)," he said as quoted by Antara.

"We expect to net potential athletes for the Doha 2006 Asian Games."

Wismoyo also urged Cholik to materialize the government's financial commitment to finance preparations for Kuala Lumpur. (nvn)