What can we expect from the SEA Games?

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Southeast Asian athletes will go all out for gold in the next week during the SEA Games.

What does the biennial event mean to those on the sidelines? The Jakarta Post interviewed people from all walks of life to discover their opinions and hopes about the Rp 105 billion Games.

Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, State Minister of the Environment and Chairman of the Indonesian Tennis Association: Our tennis team can win some gold medals if it is quite solid. For the women's team, I am not too optimistic because Thailand is too strong for us, especially as our number one tennis player, Yayuk Basuki, is absent this time. For the men, I am optimistic that we can beat all other teams. We will give bonuses for gold medal winners.

I. B. Sudjana, Minister of Mines and Energy and Chairman of Indonesian Squash Federation: Squash is still relatively new for us. We can't expect too much, although I think our team has made impressive progress.

We must support the SEA Games because this is an honor for our nation. If I have free time, I will watch some events, especially squash, tennis and golf.

Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, State Minister of Investment and former chairman of the Indonesian Swimming Federation: I am too busy with my job so I do not closely follow sports development. I hope we can win many medals in swimming. Singapore has made serious preparations.

Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Armed Forces Commander: I am too busy to watch the Games, but I will go to the swimming competition if I have time.

Emil Salim, former state minister of environment: I am going to watch the SEA Games. Why not? It is an important biannual sports event in which we are expected to promote friendship among all Southeast Asia nations.

Rather than making athletes go all out to be champion, it would be better to emphasize promoting attitudes of sportsmanship and friendship among nations.

If I had tickets, my first choice would be athletics, the second would be swimming.

My favorite athletes are those who run fast. I'd like to see who the fastest runners in Southeast Asia are. Also the highest jumper.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, a legal expert from the University of Indonesia: I won't watch any of the events. I am not a sports fan. Even if someone gave me a ticket, I still wouldn't go.

I think the Games is a waste of money. The money should be spent on something more important.

I also refuse to pay for the Games stickers.

Wimar Witoelar, a talk show host: I don't have plans to watch any of the Games. If I have time, maybe I'll watch tennis.

Wynne Prakusya and Wukirasih Sawondari (both tennis players) are my favorite athletes. Wynne is a talented player and she could be a role model for other players.

I wish the Indonesian athletes the best.

Remember, it's only a game. Take it easy.

Endang,, a high school principal who asked to use a pseudonym: I am quite a sports fan. I like to watch soccer games. I also watch favorite teen sports, such as basketball and volleyball.

Three of my students are in the SEA Games, and they have taken leave since September for training

I always urge my students to do their best. Win or lose -- that is a matter of luck and effort. It's good if you win, and it's just a consequence of the game if you lose.

I always pray for our athletes. May the best win.

I don't object to the SEA Games. But I think it would be nicer if we organized the Games in a more healthy economic situation. I think it would be better for Indonesia to join the event as a participant, but not as the host. The consequence of becoming host is that you have to pay for all the expenses, and it is a burden for the public.

My heart cries. Indonesia has been hit by a monetary crisis, and I think we should concentrate more on putting out the forest fires and helping our fellow citizens struck by famine in Irian Jaya, instead of holding a glamorous event.

The SEA Games has sparked controversy from the beginning. Many people complained about the fees added to bills to provide funding for the Games. It is not right. Is the Games really enjoyable and affordable for everyone? I doubt it.

They also cut teachers' salaries. Our earnings are meager, anyway. But between Rp 1,000 to Rp 5,000 was deducted per month. You can imagine how hard things are for us.

Schools were requested to assign students to welcome the SEA Games torch, but it was up to us to foot the bill for students' transportation. This meant spending extra money. We could not burden the students and the parents. Yet the school could not afford to pay for all the expenses. What should we do?

Gito Rollies, a rock singer: I will have to take my son, who is a big fan of track and field events, to the Madya stadium.

I will watch the other events on TV. My favorites are swimming and weightlifting.

I am optimistic Indonesia is going to win because we are the host nation and have the largest contingent.

But don't forget, Allah decides everything. I'll pray for the athletes.

My favorite athlete? Swimmer Elsa Manora Nasution. She's really good.

Asman A. Nasution President of state-owned PT Telkom: What? SEA Games? I don't care. It's not my business. Just ask me about telecommunications.

Mario, a third-year student of SMU Arena Siswa I high school: I'm going to watch the SEA Games, but only the interesting events, like football, badminton and basketball. I'd prefer to watch on TV because the sport halls will be crowded.

I hope Indonesia will be the main winner across all the events, but it that seems impossible, right? But I do hope that Indonesia will be the top medal winner at this year's Games.

I think Indonesian athletes should go all out to win the Games title, but it has to be fair.

Then again, sometimes I think it wouldn't be too nasty if we cheated the other athletes a little bit, especially the Malaysian and Thai athletes, because they cheated us when they hosted previous Games.

I will be watching men's soccer as it is my favorite sport. I want to see Aples Tecuary. I will watch badminton, too, especially men's doubles.

My favorite athlete is Michael Jordan. Too bad he doesn't play for Indonesia.

Supriyanto, a 27-year-old traditional food vendor in Bekasi, east of Jakarta: I want to watch the SEA Games, but I don't know if I can afford the tickets.

I don't know how much the tickets cost, but I assume they are be expensive.

I am really eager to watch the soccer matches. I'm sorry I can't see them (in the stadium), but at least I still could watch on TV.

Indonesian athletes should do their utmost to win. It's about our country's reputation. I hope Indonesia will win the most gold medals.

Arief Rachman, legislator and principal of Labschool high school in Rawamangun, East Jakarta: I'm going to watch the Games, especially swimming, diving and track and field.

I expect the Games could boost our nationalism, our friendship with our brothers and sisters from other ASEAN countries and also improve the quality of our athletes' performances.

I agree that Indonesian athletes should do all they can to win. Indonesia must be champion of the Games. You've got to stick your neck out if you want to win. I am not a fanatic about our team, but if they've prepared well, we can predict the result.

I have many favorite athletes, but I just can't remember a name.

Debra Yatim, public relations executive: I'm going to watch the Games, especially swimming and soccer. I'm not very fond of the latter, but I married a man from a soccer family.

My father-in-law, the late Abdul Wahab Djojohadikusumo, was the former chairman of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI). We have a joke in our family that soccer players were more popular than the chairman during his era. But now, the administrators seem to outshine the players. They are the stars today.

In my opinion, that means Indonesian athletes will never achieve the level of performance we expect. It's our fault as a nation -- somehow we focus on the organizer, not on the athletes. I think that is strange. That's why I am making an effort this year to go out and watch the athletes myself.

The other reason I want to watch this year's Games is because the government took quite a bit of my money to finance it. When I pay my phone, water and electric bills, use the toll roads, buy a plane or movie ticket, I have to pay for the Games' stickers.

My friends and I once worked out how much money we've each contributed, and it came to exactly Rp 60,000. I want my money's worth, so I am going to watch the Games.

I think that Indonesia should focus on setting records, either personal or national ones. We still have the wrong focus by saying that Indonesia must win. I think an athlete must achieve his personal best. Today, Indonesia is a mediocre nation because we are not motivated to achieve our own individual best.

I like Elsa Manora Nasution, Susi Susanti and Yayuk Basuki. They've made us proud by their international achievements.

Aburizal Bakrie (Ical), chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and of the Bakrie Group: I love watching the SEA Games, but I mostly watch them on television. My favorite sports are soccer, badminton and tennis. This year, I'll go to watch the badminton at the stadium. I think our men's doubles team (badminton) will definitely get a medal.

Esther Lolita, a 22-year-old assistant public relations manager at Planet Hollywood: Our badminton player Susi Susanti has the winning skills to grab the gold medal.

Our pride as host country is invested in this. Susi has time and again proven a winner. She is Olympic material, so why not the SEA Games?

I want to watch swimming, badminton and tennis.

We are winners, and I believe we will triumph.

My favorite athletes are Susi and Mia Audina.

Our athletes are skilled and excellently trained. They have proven themselves to be quite good on the field.

Hanafi Makmun, 56-year-old taxi driver and a soccer fan:

I will watch the soccer matches if Indonesia is likely to win. Otherwise, I'll just watch them on TV with my family.

Football and boxing are my two favorite sports and I want to watch them in the stadium.

I never miss any boxing events in Jakarta. Occasionally, I go early to make sure I get front-row seats.

I don't have any favorite young athletes. None of them compare to soccer players Sucipto Suntoro and Iswadi Idries from the 1970s. They were what I call sportsmen, and they didn't play for money or bonuses.

Mursanuddin A. Ghani, spokesman for Directorate General of Immigration: I have not decided whether to watch the SEA Games in the stadium or on TV.

I would like to watch the tennis. But I don't know whether I will have the time. I have to work on Saturdays and Sundays. (team)