Indeed, the development of sports in this country continues to make up the rear of international events, and, it seems, will never budge from that position for many years to come unless appropriate rectifications are made immediately.

That no serious attention has been paid by the government to national sports was aptly evidenced during the recent election campaigns in which no presidential candidate touched on this sector of human endeavor.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Yusuf Kalla and Megawati Soekarnoputri dwelled eloquently on subjects ranging from politics to economics, and from security to law enforcement, with not a single word ever uttered on sports.

It is too bad, considering the fact the national anthem is sung and the national flag is hoisted on only two occasions in the international community: to honor a visiting president, and to honor a gold medalist in the sporting arena.

No wonder then that national sports still stand where they are, despite all the efforts made and funds spent. This is not because we are short of dedicated sports officials and experts, but simply because of the absence of a proper and directed management, sustained training methods and regeneration processes through regular local competitions.

That no proper follow-up steps are taken after a success in any sport that is not so popular in this country was well illustrated when Indonesia secured a silver medal in archery in the 1998 Seoul Olympics.

Underrated and overlooked, the trio of women's archers - Nurfitriyana Saiman, Kusumawardani and Lilis Handayani - took the silver in the team event, much to the surprise of the spectators, their rivals and Indonesian officials alike.

It was Indonesia's first ever Olympic medal, after more than 30 years of participation in the world's greatest sporting extravaganza.

Such momentum should have galvanized Indonesia into creating more internationally recognized archers. Unfortunately, though, the fact belies the thought.

The performances of national archers have instead continued to decline in Asia, not to mention in the world.

This is clearly ample proof that those at the helm of national sports, including the National Sports Council (KONI), have failed to make the most of good momentum, thanks to lousy management and poorly directed training programs.

With a view to the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos later this year, Indonesia, which was the undisputed king of sports in the region in the 1970s and 1980s, before being eclipsed by Thailand, certainly does not want to take a back seat, having comfortably been in the driving seat for years.

The government should take a greater role in prodding the development of national sports. It is also urged to pay more attention to retired athletes whose plight is often less fortunate than that of their peers.

There are numerous cases of athletes who have done the nation proud during their heyday are now leading miserable lives trying to make ends meet.

Former cyclist Enceng Durahman, who won five SEA Games gold medals, is now reportedly working as a parking attendant at a sports hall in Bandung. Former women's shuttler Taty Sumirah, one of the heroines of Indonesia's 1975 Uber Cup winning team, ended up working as a cashier at a small Jakarta drugstore. Former long-distance runner Gurnam Singh, a medalist at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, went on to do all kinds of menial jobs, including as a street sweeper, before succumbing to a chronic lung illness.

These three sad stories are just a few examples of how athletes who were heaped with lavish praise during their playing days are going through hardship when they are no longer around in the arena.

As president-elect Yudhoyono prepares his new Cabinet, the revival of the Sports Ministry headed by a minister with a full-fledged portfolio would make up for his mistake in failing to mention sports during his campaign rallies.

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