Ganefo, Sukarno’s Attempt to Challenge the Olympics

JAKARTA was brimming with a festive mood. Many people had been flocking to the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium since morning, passing Jalan Sudirman that was heavily decorated with hundreds of banners and red-and-white flags. Vehicles flooded the road that was jam-packed with enthusiastic people. The admission was free, so no one wanted to miss the rare opportunity.

At three in the afternoon, the stadium was already filled with 100,000 spectators, while many others were swarming on the other side of the gate. An hour later, President Sukarno arrived by helicopter. The opening ceremony for The Games of the New Emerging Forces (Ganefo), the grand sporting event subsequently began. One by one the contingents of each country paraded and marched while being greeted by the excited spectators.

An Indonesian athlete, Harun Al-Rasjid, ran with a torch to light the Ganefo cauldron. The blazing flame was then accompanied by the raising of the Ganefo flag and the chanting of the Ganefo hymn. The ceremonial event felt familiar, yet at the same time had great significance for the participants.

Sukarno went up to the podium and a sudden silence spread across the arena. With a brief sentence spoken in Indonesian, English and French, he stated, "I hereby open the Ganefo I."

A cannon sound thundered. Balloons were released. Thousands of doves symbolizing peace flew into the sky. The audience rejoiced. The official opening on 10 November 1963 also marked the beginning of the competition for the coveted medals among 51 participating countries.

Ganefo, which was initiated by Indonesia, was not just a sporting event, but also an opportunity for cultural exchange between developing countries. Its birth, however, was preceded by several complex political issues.

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The Politicization of Sport

Bad news came to Indonesia on 8 February 1963. A message was sent from the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland, stating that the country was suspended from the IOC membership.

The problem was caused by the holding of the 4th Asian Games in Jakarta on 24 August–4 September 1962 in which Indonesia refused to issue visas for contingents from Taiwan and Israel. The reasons were stated firmly by Sukarno: Indonesia didn’t have diplomatic relations with the two countries and Indonesia wanted to express a gesture of solidarity with the struggles of the Arab countries and the People's Republic of China.

At that time, Arab countries were in dispute with Israel which was backed by the West. Meanwhile, China was ostracized by the international community after the West only recognized Taiwan as the legitimate government of China. Sukarno deemed those actions as a form of oppression by the Old Established Forces (Oldefos) against the New Emerging Forces (Nefos).

"The President of Indonesia, Sukarno, was very enthusiastic about supporting the Asian Games. He saw it as a means to realize a series of political goals, including foreign policy that established himself as the leader of the non-aligned countries," wrote Charles Little in "Games of the Newly Emerging Forces", published in Sports Around The World: History, Culture and Practice.

Indonesia's stance undoubtedly drew criticism, the strongest one coming from Guru Dutt Sondhi, founder and vice president of the Asian Games Federation (AGF) who refused to recognize the legitimacy of the 4th Asian Games. The majority of Indonesians considered his refusal as a big insult to Sukarno, and it led to a riot breaking out in front of the Indian Embassy in Jakarta.

“The demonstrators also raided the hotel where Sondhi was staying, looking for him from room to room. Luckily, he was able to flee and that very afternoon he managed to get out of Jakarta (to India)," wrote Mihir Bose in The Spirit of the Game: How Sport Has Changed the Modern World.

Go to hell with the IOC, we developing countries already have our own sporting event, Ganefo.

Despite the severe criticism, the 4th Asian Games was held successfully. Japan topped the medal tally followed by Indonesia, India, and Pakistan.

AGF referred the issue to the IOC who subsequently convened and decided on the suspension of Indonesia from the IOC membership indefinitely until Indonesia apologized and promised not to repeat its actions. Indonesia's rejection of Israel and Taiwan was considered by the IOC as an act that hurt the ideals of the Olympics, and that it was too far for Indonesia to intertwine sports and politics.

"For the first time in its 69 years of history, the IOC must decide to expel a country that was already a member of it," wrote Rusli Lutan and Fan Hong in "The Politicization of Sport: GANEFO-A Case Study" compiled in Sport, Nationalism, and Orientalism: The Asian Games by Fan Hong.

Sukarno was enraged and ordered the Indonesian National Olympic Committee (KOI) to leave the IOC on 14 February 1963. He condemned India as a traitor to the spirit of the Ten Principles of Bandung 1955. Meanwhile, he saw the IOC as an extension of the imperialists who want to dominate sports affairs for their own interests, and that their criticism of Indonesia about the mixing of sports and politics was merely hypocritical.

"If the majority of views and attitudes of the AGF members, who represent the 13 countries that signed the Asia-Africa convention in Bandung, think that the Asian Games do not truly reflect the spirit of Bandung, then we must hold a new Asian Games, that truly reflect the spirit of Bandung. Right away, we will hold a new sporting event among the Nefos countries, as soon as possible, in 1963," said Sukarno, quoted by India and the Olympics by Boria Majumdar and Nalin Mehta.

Because of that, at the suggestion of the Minister of Sports Maladi and also Sukarno, Indonesia was determined to make its own Games to rival the Olympics.

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Low-Cost, High-Return Event

Preparations were carried out swiftly as per Sukarno's instructions. Minister Maladi was assigned to handle everything. The preparatory conference was held in Jakarta on 27–29 April 1963 where ten countries attended as full members: Cambodia, China, Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan, Mali, North Vietnam, the United Arab Republic and the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Yugoslavia attended as observers. The name of the sporting event was announced to the public for the first time: The Games of the New Emerging Forces (Ganefo).

In his opening speech at the conference at the Hotel Indonesia, Sukarno explained that Ganefo's goal was, politically, to counter the IOC and the imperialist camp within it. However, Sukarno didn't oppose the Olympic ideals put forward by Baron de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic system, who saw the event as a means to foster unity, peace, and friendship.

“We are happy to join the IOC because we agree with the idea introduced by Baron de Coubertin. But what did we get from the IOC? Their attitude shows that they are now just a tool of imperialists and colonialists! We had a bitter experience with the Asian Games! How do you feel, Chinese communists! When you are ostracized from international sports just because you are a communist country? When they are hostile to the United Arab Republic, or when they isolate North Korea, or when they isolate North Vietnam. Isn't it all a political decision?” rebuked Sukarno.

The conference, in which the Ganefo principles were introduced, ended successfully. The Ganefo I's activities would be based on the spirit of the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung and the true ideals of the Olympics: promoting and developing sports and physical culture as well as sports movements in all Nefos countries, stimulating sporting competitions among Nefos youth, and promoting friendship and world peace in general.

It was also decided that Ganefo I was to be held from 10–22 November 1963 in Jakarta with Indonesia as the organizing committee. There were three main programs in the event, namely sports competitions, art festivals, and delegation tours to several regions in Indonesia.

While Jakarta rushed to prepare Ganefo, the IOC watched their every move. “The IOC and the international federations could not tolerate a sports movement whose aim was strictly political, nor one in direct competition with the Olympic movement,” wrote Richard Espy in The Politics of the Olympic Games: With an epilogue, 1976–1980.

The IOC later announced that it didn't recognize Ganefo and would reconsider the right to enter the 1964 Tokyo Olympics for athletes participating in Ganefo. Indonesia didn't budge and continued to extend invitations to developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. A number of countries, despite being shaken by the IOC's threat, accepted Sukarno's invitation.

One interesting thing about the organization of Ganefo was the minimal costs incurred by Indonesia as the host. As a form of support, and as a gratitude for being given the opportunity to compete in the international sporting event, China donated US$18 million for the transportation of all Ganefo delegations. On the surface, the Ganefo concept was nothing but a replica of the Olympics, especially considering the sports branches.

"The sports complex is ready and its construction was funded by the Soviets for the 4th Asian Games. America has just completed the construction of an overpass that makes access from Tanjung Priok to Senayan easier. Japan disbursed funds to build an international standard hotel that could accommodate Ganefo participants from the athletes village. Even though the costs are low, the political returns are very high for Indonesia," wrote Ewa T. Pauker in "Ganefo I: Sports and Politics in Djakarta", Journal of the Asian Survey, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 1965.

The significant influence from the Soviet Union and China invited criticism. “Indonesia was in a dilemma. Their domestic economy is crumbling, but on the other hand Indonesia wants to rise as a pioneer of the Third World," said Suditomo, a member of the logistics committee during Ganefo.

More Than a Competition

"I was sitting at the front seat," said Eni Nuraeni, a West Java swimming athlete participating in Ganefo, recalling when Sukarno extended some advice to the Indonesian contingent at the Merdeka Palace on 8 November 1963. "I was probably still 18 years old back then, but I was proud to see and hear what Sukarno had to say."

Sukarno emphasized that Ganefo was an occasion to build friendships through sports, and that sporting achievement wasn't really a priority. In other words, Ganefo was a forum for people-to-people diplomacy.

"I ask you all, my brothers, sisters, and children who are representing Indonesia in this first edition of Ganefo, to show that you are a representative of the Indonesian people who have high morals, high values, and are able to achieve victory from those high morals," said Sukarno. "Our goal of holding Ganefo is for the Nefos countries to unite in a sense of friendship and in a sense of love for one another."

"Establishing friendship was the point that Sukarno emphasized to us," Eni recalled.

Ganefo opened with great fanfare on 10 November 1963, and for 12 days, 51 countries participated in 20 sports branches. In total, there were around 2,700 athletes competing, along with officials and journalists from various countries.

The 51 participating countries came from four continents: Asia (Afghanistan, Burma, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, China, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Thailand, and North Vietnam), Africa (Algeria, Guinea, Morocco, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Somalia, Tunisia and the United Arab Republic), Europe (Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, East Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Soviet Union and Yugoslavia), and America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Dominica, Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela).

“Athletics were the most popular events, with athletes from 23 countries entered in the track and field events. The next most popular sports were cycling (16 nations), table tennis (15), tennis (14), boxing (13), and swimming/diving (13). The hosts entered competitors in all 20 sports, while the People’s Republic of China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea participated in 13 sports,” wrote Russell Field in The Olympic Movement's Response to the Challenge of Emerging Nationalism in Sport: An Historical Reconsideration of GANEFO.

However, not all countries sent their best contingents, as the majority of participating countries did have sympathy for Ganefo but didn't want to put their membership in the IOC in jeopardy.

“Most of the participating countries didn't send official contingents for fear of being excluded from the Olympics. In general, only athletes of lower caliber than the Olympic level were sent to Ganefo," wrote Rusli Lutan and Fan Hong.

Japan, for instance, was invited by the Indonesian government, but their Olympic committee refused to attend Ganefo. However, a group of Japanese businessmen who were afraid that their business in Indonesia would be disrupted due to this refusal decided to send their own contingent, without the blessing of the national committee.

While Morocco and the Philippines sent delegations recruited from the military, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile sent their student athletes. Similarly, the European countries sent contingents that were mostly from sports organizations belonging to opposition political factions in their countries.

One of the most striking examples was the Dutch contingent whose athlete Guda Heijke, a 16-year-old diver, won gold in diving. "Heijke was sent by the Nederlandse Culturele Sportbond, an organization for the youth on a political basis with a strong socialistic background," wrote Russell Field.

"To me Ganefo was merely a celebratory event," chuckled Yohanes Paulus Lay, an athletics athlete who also competed in Ganefo. "Some people ran without spikes. Using spikes was considered a luxury at that time."

“The point was to exercise, have fun, and make lots of friends. It's different from the Asian Games. The people we fought there were seasoned athletes. They were more elite. I personally felt that there was no competitiveness in Ganefo," he added.

Ganefo indeed didn't only focus on the sports aspect. During those 12 days, there was also the Ganefo Art Festival which consisted of art performances and film screenings from Nefos countries. One that garnered the most attention was the troupe from Mexico, with singer Maria de Lourdes as the star.

"The Mexican girl who has a 'mezzo Soprano' voice has received favorable publicity from journalists in Jakarta after giving her performance at the Megaria building," wrote Bintang Timur newspaper on 23 November 1963, in the article titled "Maria Jadi Rebutan!" ("Maria Was Contested!")

In general, Ganefo was a success. On the final day, China topped the standings followed by the Soviet Union, Indonesia, the United Arab Republic and North Korea. After the closing ceremony, foreign contingents were scheduled to make visits to various parts of Indonesia such as Bali, Bandung, Medan and Cirebon.

The Ganefo Impact

The success of Ganefo certainly brought a major political impact. On 24 and 25 November 1963, two days after the closing of Ganefo, the delegates proclaimed the establishment of the Conference of New Emerging Forces (Conefo), with the hope of making Ganefo permanent.

Sukarno himself was recognized as the founder of Ganefo. He was also the one that launched Conefo, with the aim of gathering the voices of the Nefos countries under an official organization. Sukarno affirmed that the struggle against imperialism hadn't yet ended and Ganefo would continue to exist to fight. A new building was built to serve as its headquarters – which now is the MPR/DPR RI building.

“....Conefo, Conference of New Emerging Forces, is a political conference of the people of Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, who are hoping for a new world of companionship, a new world of brotherhood and friendship without exploitation de l' homme par l'homme. Not only political unity, but also unity in sports through the New Emerging Forces," said Sukarno in his speech.

Despite the previous issues regarding Ganefo, Indonesia still hoped to take part in the Olympics in Tokyo. On 27 April 1964, KOI sent a letter to the IOC requesting the removal of the suspension of Indonesia from participating in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which was responded callously by the IOC. However, at the urging of its members such as the Arab countries and Japan as the host, the IOC finally removed the suspension of Indonesia under a condition: the Indonesian athletes who competed in Ganefo were banned from participating in the Olympics. 

Still, the Indonesian contingent departed for Tokyo. After arriving there, they threatened the IOC: either allow the entire Indonesian contingent to participate in the Olympics or they would withdraw. The IOC was unmoved, so Indonesia eventually decided to quit the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

"Go to hell with the IOC, we developing countries already have our own sporting event, Ganefo," said Sukarno. 

Unfortunately, the political turmoil in 1965 and the change of power from Sukarno to Suharto caused Ganefo to crumble and ultimately fade away. The construction of the Conefo building was abandoned, before being resumed but converted into a legislative building.

No celebration was held at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in 2013 to commemorate the half-century anniversary of Ganefo, a sporting event that caught the world's attention at that time.

“Although Ganefo is a sporting event that was held only once, it is still history. It must be documented, and not forgotten," said Eni Nuraeni

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