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Nation’s sports system in need of change, experts say
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Indonesian cyclists Ayustina Delia Priatna (left) and Liontin Evangelina Setiawan hold hands while competing on women’s madison category during 18th Asian Games at Jakarta International Velodrome in Jakarta on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. (Inasgoc via Antara/Eka Nickmatulhuda)
D
iscourse on the 2005 National Sports System Law has picked up, with several influential people in the country’s sports landscape calling for the law to be reassessed by reaffirming the roles of those on the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) and National Sports Council (KONI).
Indonesia recognizes the two as NGOs that work hand-in-hand with the Youth and Sports Ministry in managing the country’s sports.
The KOI’s main role is to represent Indonesia at international sporting events, make bids to host events and organize international events at home. Meanwhile, KONI handles sports development and other domestic matters.
Erick Thohir, former KOI chief whose term ended two weeks ago, said the roles of the two NGOs overlapped, which hampered the development of sports nationwide.
He reasoned that, given the many changes that had taken place in the world of sports since the law was issued, it was time for the country to revisit it and make the necessary changes.
“The issue regarding the jobs of KONI and the KOI will [continue to] overlap if the law is left unrevised,” he said during a KOI congress on Oct. 9. “This overlapping issue won’t solve any problems in our sports.”
Oftentimes, local sports federations find themselves at odds, with people fighting for leadership positions and taking sides to earn either the KOI’s or KONI’s support.
