Athletes Suffer Setbacks Amid KOI-KONI Dispute
Jakarta. While the dispute between Indonesia’s two top national sports administrators rages on, athletes are the ones suffering the most as they have had to train for months without proper support.
The national swimming team for example, has already been training for more than two months, but the swimmers only received their salaries for January this week, according to their coach, Albert Susanto.
“I don’t want to comment on the current situation, but yes, we’re facing the same old problem about the budget, which has delayed our preparations,” Albert told the Jakarta Globe on Tuesday.
“Our plan was to start with the general preparations in January. The government, as usual, gets the state budget ratified around that time.
“So the payment of athletes’ salaries was delayed. They have just received their January salaries this month, though they have been training since January.”
Albert added that the national sport federations, including the Indonesian Aquatic Association (PRSI), are trying not to get involved in the dispute between the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) and the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI), preferring to focus on athletes’ preparation for the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, slated for June 5 to 16 in Singapore.
But the conflict will likely negatively impact athletes’ performance at the SEA Games. Fortunately, the PRSI received much-needed support from its provincial offices, especially in West and East Java, who have funded athletes’ preparation.
“We all know it is not easy to do it on our own. Since we decided to send our athletes to practice in Australia, it will cost a fortune. Each athlete requires A$ 3,000 [$2,300] for monthly expenses and the competitions they’ll participate in. So we really appreciate their support,” Albert said.
Prima, the body in charge with athletes’ preparation for multi-sports events, has agreed to send athletes overseas, but only for competitions, not training.
The PRSI selected 23 swimmers for the SEA Games, where they are expected to compete in all events. Among the names is breast-stroke specialist Indra Gunawan, who returned to the pool after serving an 18-month ban for doping in the 2013 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. He was also stripped of the gold medal he won in the breast stroke at the event.
“He has been preparing himself during his suspension. So he’ll be ready to compete at any time. We just need to help him return to top form,” Albert said.
Indonesia wants to bring back the glory of the 2011 SEA Games, where swimmers won six gold medals. With Indra out of the league at the 2013 edition in Myanmar, Indonesia took home five gold, six silver, and four bronze medals.
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