Grand reunion for national athletes planned on Feb. 11<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): For many years, Indonesian athletes have been
\nconcerned about their future after their prime years as an
\nathlete are over. Many examples of former athletes who live a
\ndisgraceful life displaying no trace of their past glories have
\ndiscouraged youngsters wishing to start a career as athletes.<\/p>\n
Very few of them have managed to continue studies and become
\nsuccessful achievers.<\/p>\n
On Feb. 11, a group consisting of former and present athletes,
\nentrepreneurs and academicians called Yayasan Prestasi Anak
\nBangsa (YPAB), a human resources foundation, will stage a grand
\nreunion for national athletes from three generations at the
\nSenayan indoor stadium.<\/p>\n
Chief of the organizing committee Purnomo Mochamad Yudhi told
\na media briefing on Thursday that the foundation wanted to
\ncollect information on former athletes as it has had difficulty
\nsearching for them through their sports organizations.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know the whereabouts of former national athletes so
\nwe have no idea what has happened to them. We also observed that
\nthe current athletes have difficulty in excelling in many
\nregional and international sports events.\"<\/p>\n
\"So we decided to stage this reunion to find out where they
\nlive, what they do and how they spend their lives,\" said the
\nformer sprinter who managed to enter the quarterfinals of the
\n100m-dash in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.<\/p>\n
Purnomo, now the marketing manager at PT Berca Sportindo, said
\nthat during the reunion the organizers will also inaugurate the
\nIndonesian Athletes Association and elect the chairman and other
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
\"Athletes will feel comfortable when they can shelter under an
\nassociation. We hope they will be more focused in improving their
\nachievement. We also want to develop support for athletes who are
\nstill active.\"<\/p>\n
\"We realize that athletes are the ones who receive the blame
\nwhen they lose in a competition. Coaches and officials never have
\nto shoulder the burden. The association is not a legal aid
\ninstitute, but it can help the related sports institutions to
\nachieve their best in the international sports community.\"<\/p>\n
Ferry Sonneville, former badminton hero who chairs YPAB, said
\nthat the foundation would also help those who were less fortunate
\nand those who could not afford education and training.<\/p>\n
\"The National Sports Council (KONI) concentrates on sports
\ndevelopment but they have ignored individual development, such as
\nhow to boost the athlete's brain power with special prana (inner)
\nenergy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He cited an example of men's shuttler Hendrawan, whom he said
\nwould have won the 2000 Sydney Olympics men's singles if he knew
\nhow to control his breath with a special meditation technique to
\nincrease his power.<\/p>\n
\"This is very small matter, but such an insignificant thing
\ncan yield great results,\" he said.<\/p>\n
All athletes are invited and expected to register themselves
\nat the YPAB Secretariat on the fifth floor of Citra Graha
\nbuilding, Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 35-36, Jakarta 12950, or contact
\ntel.: (021) 5207500\/5224458, fax No.: (021)5224454 and e-mail
\naddress at waowcard@cbn.net.id.<\/p>\n
\"We will try to help athletes who live outside Jakarta and can
\nnot afford their transportation and accommodation fees,\" said
\nFerry. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/grand-reunion-for-national-athletes-planned-on-feb-11-1447893297",
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