VEEP: 17th NATIONAL SPORTS WEEK IN E KALIMANTAN NEEDS EVALUATING

Samarinda, July 18 (ANTARA) - Vice President Yusuf Kalla said that organizing national sports events like the 17th National Sports Week (PON) in East Kalimantan in 2008 should be evaluated because too many branches of sports were competed.

He made the remark when closing this year's 17th national sports week at the Palaran Stadium of Samarinda, on Thursday.

The 2008 national sports week with a total of 43 branches of sports contested was officially opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on July 5.
"We have to evaluate the most appropriate PON. Because of the too many branches of sports, it is difficult to record the best performance," Kalla said.

Kalla also hoped that the National Sports Ministry and the the Indonesian national sports committee (KONI) need to evaluate the 17th PON to enable the next PON to run more efficiently and record better performances.

Earlier, Kalla criticized many branches of sports competed and asked the PON organizers to refer to the branches of sports in the Asian Games or the Olympics.

"On the occasion, I want to extend my appreciation to the sports minister, the Indonesian national sports committee, the local government and the people in East Kalimantan," he said.