Surono hopes RI will capture SEA games title

JAKARTA (JP): Former National Sport Council chairman Surono hopes Indonesia will capture the overall title at the 19th SEA Games here in October.

"Although it is rather difficult, I am still optimistic that Indonesia can grab the overall title in this year's Games," Surono said Saturday after attending Indonesia's proclamation for independence memorial journey. But he said Thailand, who will hold next year's Asian Games, would certainly try to defend its 18th SEA Games Chiang Mai title.

Surono said funds are the biggest problem in hosting this year's Games. "Funds is of course the first thing we must observe because without money we cannot host the biennial Games."

Surono led Indonesia's contingent at the 1991 SEA Games in the Philippines. Indonesia was the overall title winner at the 1991 SEA Games with 92 gold medals, beating the Philippines by one gold.

Meanwhile, SEA Games organizer Hidarto said he was forced to obtain bank loans to stage events at the Games.

"The SEA Games events commission has only received Rp 120 million from the SEA Games consortium of the total budget proposal of Rp 4.751 billion," said Hindarto as quoted by Antara.

The budget would be allocated for operational costs and the payment of officials, referees and technical staff, he said.

The SEA Games organizing committee has dispatched entry forms to all participating countries.

The deadline for the return of the forms is Sept. 19.

About 5,000 athletes will compete in the 19th SEA Games here, more than doubling the 1995 Games field.

Nine of the 10 participating countries have confirmed their teams for the biennial event, with only Brunei Darussalam yet to confirm its participation. The last Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, drew 2,166 athletes.

Indonesia will have the biggest team with 894 athletes, 25 more than the overall title holder, Thailand, covering the Games' 34 sports.

Thailand will also enter every sport with 360 female and 509 male athletes.

The third biggest contingent at this year's games will be the Philippines with 476 male and 306 female athletes. It will field athletes in all sports except water skiing and field hockey.

Myanmar, which will send 258 male and 189 female athletes, will compete in 29 sports.

Singapore will send 403 male and 271 female athletes to take part in all events, except wrestling and weight lifting.

Malaysia, which will host the Games in 1999, will take part in all sports with its 417 male and 254 female athletes.

Vietnam will send 198 male and 60 female athletes to take part in 24 sports. Laos will compete in 17 sports with 125 athletes. Cambodia will send 82 male and eight female athletes for 15 of the sports.

Contrary to news reports, SEA Games training director Djoko Pramono said no event would be canceled.

He said no sport would be scratched from the Games unless countries withdrew from events.

Indonesia won 77 gold, 67 silver and 77 bronze from 27 events at the last Games. Thailand dominated by winning 157 gold, 98 silver and 91 bronze.

Indonesia expects to win the overall title at this year's Games with 440 gold, 440 silver and 558 bronze medals up for the taking. (03)