Wismoyo chairs sports council for second term

Wismoyo chairs sports council for second term

JAKARTA (JP): Wismoyo Arismunandar won a landslide majority of
votes to chair the National Sports Council (KONI) for a second
four-year period as widely expected on Wednesday.

More than two-thirds of the 350 participants in the KONI
congress put their weight behind the former Army chief of staff,
Wismoyo, saying he had brought success to national sports during
his first term.

An elated Wismoyo, who turned 59 years old on Feb. 10, told a
media conference that followed the announcement of his reelection
that he would lead Indonesian athletes to more glory in the
future by choosing his assistants on merit.

"I think I've understood the sports community better than
ever. My eyes are open now to see the right persons to team up
with," Wismoyo said.

Under Wismoyo's tenure, Indonesia won a gold medal at the 1996
Olympic Games, regained the country's supremacy at the Southeast
Asian Games here in 1997 and fulfilled the target of winning six
gold medals at the Asian Games in Bangkok last December.

The North Sulawesi sports body chairman, Evert Erens
Mangindaan, who presided over the final session of the congress,
announced that Wismoyo would have one month to form his
executive. He will be assisted by Mangindaan and noted sports
expert Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar.

Mangindaan, who is North Sulawesi Governor, was quick to
decline a post on KONI's new board of executives.

"No, thank you. I can't accept a post with KONI because I'm
still a governor and chair my province's sports body. There are
many other people who are better than I who can help Pak
Wismoyo," he said.

Wismoyo thanked the congress participants for putting trust in
him.

"To chair a sports organization needs hard work and
cooperation. And people must do it voluntarily," he said.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono gave
a warm welcome to Wismoyo's reelection. Agung, who attended the
session, hoped that Wismoyo and his new aides would fare well.

"Pak Wismoyo has ample experience to lead KONI and has proven
his capability. Hopefully he can have a solid team with good
teamwork," he said after closing the congress.

The session capped the three-day congress which also issued
some recommendations for KONI to carry out in the next four
years.

The spokesman for the commission on athletes development
affairs, Eko F. Santoso, told the plenary meeting that KONI must
set a medal-winning target for Indonesian athletes to retain
their overall title at the SEA Games in Bandar Seri Begawan in
August.

The commission also urged KONI to set a target for Indonesia
at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

However, the council failed to conclude anything on a proposal
to bid to host the 2006 Asian Games.

Chairman of the commission on organizational affairs Putra
Astaman said a small team which was assigned to study the
feasibility of the recommendations would further discuss the
Asian Games bid. The team has three weeks to finish their work.

The council also agreed that the 2000 National Games would be
held from July 19 to July 30 in Surabaya.

Another controversy marked the end of the congress when the
commission on general affairs recommended that KONI ask for a
government loan worth Rp 1 trillion to finance sports
development.

The commission chairman, Dali Taher, said the money would be
deposited in state banks and KONI could run its activities on the
bank interest.

"KONI will earn around Rp 100 billion in interest per year
which can be used for sports development," Dali said.

Agung criticized the recommendation as "unrealistic".

"It's strange for an organization to borrow money from the
government. What if the government doesn't have the money? Do we
have to use our foreign loan? How can KONI return the money?"
Agung asked. (yan)