Organizers say PON will run on time

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 06/25/2008 10:32 AM | Sports

The organizing committee of the 17th National Games (PON) said Tuesday the event would open on schedule in ten days' time, despite technical problems and lack of sporting equipment.

Some 6,658 athletes from 33 provinces will take part in 43 sporting disciplines at the quadrennial sporting spectacle in East Kalimantan. Six of the sports will start ahead of the opening ceremony, scheduled for July 5.

Hendardji Soepandji, a committee official in charge of supervision, said all the sports would run on schedule.

He said final preparations were still underway at some of the venues but was optimistic the games would not be delayed.

"We are now repairing four damaged bowling lanes and hopefully we can finish them this week," he said.

He added equipment for some sports, including karate, badminton, athletics and swimming, had yet to be purchased.

"For the karate competition, we haven't bought mats yet that comply with tournament standards," he said.

Automated scoring machines in the swimming and athletics arena were not yet installed, but Hendardji said generators had been installed in every venue "to anticipate sudden blackouts during the games".

Hermain Okol, another official on the organizing committee, said technical problems had forced them to move five sports from Sangata to other venues.

"We will host those events in other cities," he said.

Parachuting and aeromodeling were moved to Tarakan, while mountain biking and tae kwon do will be held in Samarinda and the traditional sport of tarung drajat will be held in Balikpapan.

The games will run until July 17 and will be hosted in Bontang, Balikpapan, Samarinda, Kutai Kartanegara, Berau and Tarakan. (ewd)

Comments (0) | Post comment

A | A | A |