Indonesia Sports Minister Blames Lack Of Funding For Poor SEA Games Showing

The 2013 Southeast Asian Games "officially ended with the closing ceremony at Nay Pyi Taw’s Wunna Thekdi Stadium on Sunday, with Indonesia surrendering the overall medal title that it won two years ago on home soil," according to Ami Afriatni of the JAKARTA GLOBE. With 65 Gold, 84 Silver and 111 Bronze Medals, "the Indonesian contingent secured only half of the projected 120 golds targeted by the government." Indonesia Youth & Sports Minister Roy Suryo, however, said that he was "not blaming the athletes for coming up short." Suryo: "I have to admit that we failed in Myanmar. On behalf of the government, I apologize and will be responsible for the poor result. We all know the athletes had to deal with poor preparation. Besides, other circumstances also served to put them at a sort of disadvantage." The "poor preparation" alluded to "the nonpayment of salaries to athletes, often for several months on end, and lack of funding to participate in pre-Games competitions or buy training equipment" (JAKARTA GLOBE, 12/23).