RI still uncertain on number of events
The Indonesian Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasoc) says that the number of events at November’s games — currently 545 in 42 sports — will be reduced.
“The number is not final and it will definitely be reduced automatically because of the four-country quota. An event with less than four participants will be dropped,” Inasoc secretary Abdul Rauf said on Wednesday.
The final number of events would be determined during the Games, he said. “If four athletes are listed in an event and one them fails to come during the competition, the organizer cannot continue the match,” Abdul added.
Amid shaky preparations, officials from Malaysia criticized Indonesia for the delay in announcing the number of events during a recent meeting of SEA Games federation and council in Bali.
Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported that the country was considering sending only back-up athletes to the Games after organizers axed squash, hockey and women’s soccer.
Malaysia’s National Sports Council (NSC) said discussions about withdrawing the country’s top athletes from the Games followed after complaints from several countries.
“Why should we waste time and money to send elite athletes if it is only for a small gain?” NSC director general Zolkples Embong said as quoted by Bernama.
“It’s better for us to send back-up athletes for the purpose of exposure,” he said adding that Indonesia had rejected appeals to reinstate the omitted events.
On the complaint, Abdul said that it was common to have such disagreements. “It also happened in the Laos Games,” he added referring to the 25th SEA Games in 2009.
Despite the controversy, organizers claimed preparations for the Games in host cities Palmebang and Jakarta were in full swing.
“We are still confident that Palembang will finish its ongoing venue projects as scheduled,” Abdul said.
Widespread concerns have emerged about Palembang’s ability to host the Games as three venues and the athletes’ village were still under construction seven months prior to the event.
“I believe Palembang will be able to do it. It won’t take much time to build a four-story building for the athletes’ village,” Abdul said.
In Jakarta, organizers said they would use hotels for the athletes’ village. “We will provide the athletes with a decent place to live during the Games. Maybe it won’t be something fancy, like a five-star hotel room, but it will be suitable,” Abdul said.
Representatives of the 11 participating countries are scheduled to visit Palembang in July to inspect progress on the venues.
On athletes, Indonesian Underwater Sports Association (POSSI) director Merari Nainggolan said that his divers were currently undergoing physical training in preparation for the Games.
“We will send about 16 athletes to the world championships in Germany and Spain in May to pick the best ones for the SEA Games because we are eying five gold medals in the Palembang event,” said the team manager, adding that Indonesia has hired Tang Lei, a trainer from China.
Indonesia is ranked second in fin swimming after Vietnam, he added.
“In the last SEA Games Vietnam bagged eight gold medals while we got three. We are confident to reach the target of five golds,” Merari said.
Indonesia will host the 26th SEA Games in Palembang and Jakarta from Nov. 11-22.