Sydney's Olympics still on agenda: KONI
Sydney's Olympics still on agenda: KONI
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has assured
that rising political tension between Indonesia and Australia
concerning East Timor will not affect its participation in the
2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
KONI's secretary-general Rudolf Warouw said on Monday that
Indonesia would take part in the Olympics despite growing anti-
Australian sentiment in Indonesia in recent days. Some of them
have been a reaction to widespread protests in Australia
targeting Indonesian interests.
Warouw said Indonesia also wanted to avoid sanctions from
international sports federations, which would be applied if an
athlete failed to perform in the quadrennial event despite
qualifying.
"I have received confirmation that the current political
situation will not affect our bilateral ties in sports," he said.
Warouw said that he and KONI's deputy chairman Harsuki would
attend the chef de mission meeting in Sydney from Sept. 22 to
Sept. 25, with items to be discussed including the athletes'
accommodation and transportation and sports facilities.
Major Indonesian cities have witnessed anti-American and
Australian protests amid allegations that Canberra is meddling
in Indonesia's domestic affairs regarding East Timor.
Some protesters, who rallied in front of Australian diplomatic
missions and other interests, were also enraged at the burning of
Indonesian flags in Australia.
National athletes in several sports, including swimming,
surfing, track and field, tae kwon do and archery, have already
qualified for the Olympics.
Warouw said that KONI sent letters to the sports organization
whose athletes would perform in the Olympics to arrange their
training program.
"We will discuss the program in a meeting early in October,"
the retired Army brigadier-general said.
He said that KONI would ask the government to provide
financial support for the training center, which is scheduled to
begin at the end of October or early November.
KONI will also seek extra funding from other sources,
including state enterprises.
"The state minister of youth affairs and sports has committed
to funding the training program for the Olympics. I hope we'll
receive the support from the government," he said.
He refused to mention the amount of money needed for the
training. "The state minister asked us to arrange a proposal for
the training program and the budget needed as well."
He said that KONI would prioritize the sports and the athletes
who would perform in the Games because of the fund restrictions.
He said that some sports should target improving their athletes'
world rankings instead of setting their sights on medals.
"For example, the women's archery team has a bigger
opportunity than the women's individual. Our swimmers, sprinters
and distance runners will find it impossible to beat the world's
top athletes. But they should try to improve their world rankings
and make an effort to enter the world's top eight or top 16."
He also said that the athletes could boost their motivation by
realizing the importance of the occasion.
"They will be very honored to have been allowed to perform in
a world sports event like the Olympics," he said. (ivy)