Wismoyo accepts top Sports Council job
Wismoyo accepts top Sports Council job
JAKARTA (JP): Wismoyo Arismunandar finally agreed, yesterday, to accept the chairmanship of the National Sports Council (KONI), in place of Surono, if it is offered to him by the electoral board tonight. His announcement has put an end to weeks of discussion within Indonesia's peak sports body about the succession.
Wismoyo, who is also the Army Chief of Staff, kept the 600 participants of KONI's congress waiting in uncertainty until the end of second day of the three-day meeting yesterday. He refused to chair the electoral board, proposing that the chair be occupied, instead, by the incumbent Surono.
The board, consisting of a maximum of three members representing KONI, sports organizations and KONI's chapters, has the right to choose a new chairman as well as KONI's leadership board.
Former three-time chairman of the Indonesian Judo Association, Wismoyo, agreed in principle to assume KONI's helm after a 15- minute talk at the Halim Perdanakusuma military airport with four representatives of the congress, led by outgoing Executive Chairman Soeweno. Wismoyo was about to leave for Lampung to inspect the military civic mission there.
Wismoyo told Soeweno that he would think over the request, reminding him that he would soon be retiring from his post in the Army.
But when Soeweno said the congress had already taken his foreseeable retirement into consideration, Wismoyo finally said, as quoted by Timbul Thomas Lubis: "If the congress really wants me, then with a feeling of deep emotion I shall accept this honor."
Wismoyo then signed a statement stating his acceptance. Wismoyo is expected to attend KONI's final meeting at the Senayan indoor stadium complex at 9 p.m. this evening.
Chairman of the congress Warsito decided to send the delegates to Halim to speak to Wismoyo after observing that 15 provincial chapters had swung their full weight behind Wismoyo during the first session of the congress.
"We need to know his (Wismoyo's) answer as soon as possible," said Warsito, who is also West Nusa Tenggara Governor.
The envoys included Sri Hastuti Mardiko of the Indonesian Gymnastics Association and Joko Mulyo Mangunprawiro of the Indonesian Wrestling Association.
Warsito said Wismoyo's refusal to lead the electoral board would not serve as a hurdle for the congress. "He has the right to say no (to the chairmanship of the electoral board), but let the congress decide," Warsito said.
Revised system
Representatives of KONI's 27 provincial chapters as well as its 50 sports and sports-related organizations held discussions yesterday on the need to revise the current system of counting medals and the need for a ruling outlawing the practice of athlete headhunting in other provinces.
Zulfirman Siregar, the North Sumatra representative, joined the majority in criticizing the "unfair" current system of medals tallying in the National Games which allowed "a gold medal to overshadow 1,000 silvers."
He proposed a points system which would give five points to gold, three to silver and one to bronze.
Other debates were on whether the date of the 14th National Games should be brought forward and whether or not the Indonesian Olympic Committee should be a separate body from KONI.
KONI plans to move forward the 14th National Games from 1997 to 1996 because of the general election. Those against the proposal said that the change would be detrimental to their budgets.
Most provincial representatives disagreed with a suggestion of Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman that the present organizational structure should be altered to completely separate the Indonesian Olympic Committee from KONI.
"Their separation would not be a guarantee that each would work well," said the representative of the Indonesian Bowling Association. (arf/amd)