Reasons Why Athletes Are Prohibited From Departing Alone To China's Asian Games

Illustration of the 2023 Asian Games. (Instagram @ag2022official)

YOGYAKARTA Ahead of the 2022 Asian Games which will be held in Hangzhou, China, the Indonesian government plans to send representatives of athletes who have previously been selected. While those who have not been successfully selected, athletes are prohibited from leaving alone for the Chinese Asian Games.

The prohibition was conveyed by the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo. Then, what is the reason why independent athletes are prohibited from going to the Asian Games in China?

The prohibition of athlete departures to China, although at independent costs it is not incurred without reason. According to the Menpora, the departure of athletes to China is in order to represent the name of Indonesia competing in the Asian Games. Therefore, all athletes competing in the multi-branch sporting event must go through government channels as well as be dispatched by the government.

"First, the athletes who appear at the Hangzhou Asian Games, China, carry the name of the Indonesian nation so that they should receive government financing support for departure in accordance with the financial ministry's standard fee," said Minister Dito as quoted from a written statement, Tuesday.

Not only that, the prohibition against athletes who plan to depart at independent costs is also enforced because of a joint decision regarding the determination of departing athletes who in their determination involve several parties.

"The government in deciding the departure of athletes to the 2022 Asian Games Hangzou China involves the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) and the Central Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI)," he explained.

In his explanation, Menpora Dito also admitted that there were differences of opinion related to the decision-making process, but this was considered reasonable. However, after the decision was made through a meeting, the decision was a joint decision made between all parties, in this case the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia, KOI, and KONI.

"The decision is that there will be no departure of athletes at independent costs for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, China," he said.

The government also emphasized that the Asian Games are not a trial event. However, the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports has prepared funds as well as is committed to sending sports athletes to one sports international championship, not multi-branch.

The purpose of this prohibition is also not to close the opportunity for athletes to go to multi-branch sporting events at their own expense, but to be realized in the future.

Not only that, the Minister of Youth and Sports also explained that there were problems related to the budget disbursed to the Gangzhou Asian Games which were highlighted because the nominal was smaller than the SEA Games.

"It's definitely smaller in number, because athletes who go to the Asian Games and SEA Games are definitely different, Asian Games are always fewer departing than the SEA Games," explained Dito.

As is known, the 2022 Asian Games are planned to be held from September 23 to October 8, 2023. The schedule is delayed because the sporting event is planned to be held 10-25 September 2022. The postponement of the schedule itself was carried out due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation which not only hit China, but throughout the country.

That's information regarding athletes not to go alone to the China Asian Games. Visit VOI.ID to get other interesting information.