Sydney Olympics symbolize long process of development

By Primastuti Handayani

JAKARTA (JP): The Sydney 2000 Olympics is over. No more cheering at the Olympics Park. Spectators, athletes and officials have returned to their daily lives with good memories of victory and shameful drugs scandals.

The world hailed Marion Jones and Maurice Greene as the fastest woman and man on the track without forgetting host runner Cathy Freeman, who not only won a gold medal but also had the honor of lighting the cauldron at the opening.

Sports fans witnessed tough races in the pool that saw Inge de Bruijn and Ian Thorpe emerge as superstars.

The world saw Venus Williams clinch two golds in the women's singles and doubles with sister Serena. The US basketball team, dubbed as the Dream Team, maintained its dominancy in the quadrennial event.

With so many events to be celebrated, the tiny Indonesian contingent was very satisfied with its achievements of one gold, three silvers and two bronzes from badminton and women's weightlifting.

It is the first time since Indonesia grabbed gold medals in the Olympics that medals came from outside badminton.

Salutations must be given to our female lifters specially to Lisa Rumbewas who won the silver in the women's 48 kilograms. Lisa managed to prove the allegation of being the favorite athlete of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI) chairman Dharma Surya.

She was appointed to the squad with much controversy. She had to compete with veteran Supeni in the selection. Apparently Lisa, daughter of former bodybuilder Levi Rumbewas, managed to answer all the doubts with a silver.

Veterans Winarni and Sri Indriyani had been targeted to bring home bronzes. There was no surprise when both managed to do so.

PABBSI sent three lifters and they successfully accomplished their duty 100 percent.

As for the badminton, Indonesia continued its domination in the men's doubles thanks to Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan. It also managed to bring home two silvers from men's singles Hendrawan and mixed doubles Tri Kusharjanto and Minarti Timur.

Is the result satisfying? Of course not. The three athletes are considered to be "old". Where were the younger ones.

Men's singles Taufik Hidayat, favorite to win the gold, failed in the quarterfinals while men's pair Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian also bowed out in the quarters following 1996 gold medalists Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky.

Potential sports

However, the results in the Olympics brought new hope for the National Sports Council (KONI). With the success of national lifters, KONI must share their attention with weightlifting, especially in grooming younger athletes for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Another sport with potential is taekwondo. Although national fighter Juana Wangsa Putri had to bow out in the second round. The Indonesian Taekwondo Association (TI) has many athletes with potential that need chances to compete abroad to prepare them to cope with pressure.

Unfortunately, athletes from track and field, swimming, diving, tennis, table tennis, boxing, judo and windsurfing failed to perform at their best.

Most of them were below form during the competition and it was very disappointing.

KONI must figure out how to make those athletes tough in the arena. One of the answers is to give them more responsibility in multi-sports events.

Next year when KONI sends athletes to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, it would be wise if KONI sent juniors to the event.

Having competed in that regional event, KONI and sports organizations can groom them for the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea.

In four years, the athletes -- who are at the golden age -- will be ready to replace the veterans in the Olympics.

Unfortunately, KONI has indicated it will send veterans to the SEA Games including "old" swimmer Richard Sam Bera, who has competed in the biennial event since 1989.

Golden Garuda

As KONI has an ambitious Golden Garuda project, which aims to help the country finish sixth in the 2006 Asian Games, it will be a more difficult task if the athletes development program remains stagnant as it is today. Much less improving performances at the next Olympics.

KONI must change its perception of development by grooming young athletes and scouting in national championships and the National Games (PON).

National athletes should not be allowed to compete in PON. The National Games should be a competition for our young, up and coming athletes.

Members of the national squad should compete in the SEA Games but after winning in the biennial event twice or more, they should concentrate their attention on Asian-level competitions including the Asian Games.

When they have reached the Asian level, they can only compete in the world or Asian championships.

Such a program will definitely require lots of money, especially to send athletes to competitions throughout the country and abroad.

Sports organizations must also seek money to stage regular, quality competitions.

In this case, KONI's sports business and industry commission is expected to come up with ideas to help sports organizations and clubs to sell the events and athletes in order to finance their regular competitions.

By earning money from promoting athletes and competitions, sports organizations and KONI will not have to beg from the government, which is difficult while the political elite fight for power.

The lack of attention to sports -- the only thing that can bring honor to Indonesia nowadays -- should boost community spirit to work harder to fulfill the dream of returning Indonesia's glorious days of the past.

The Olympics taught us that men can achieve their best through years of development. The effort requires cooperation not only from the government but also from private sectors and sports society.