Indonesia eyes Winter Olympics in contract bridge<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): With the recognition of the World Bridge
\nFederation (WBF) as an international sports federation in the
\nOlympic family, Indonesia has for the first time the opportunity
\nto take part in the Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided to stage
\nbridge as an exhibition event at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter
\nGames and as a medal event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the Indonesian Contract Bridge
\nAssociation (Gabsi), Abdullah Imran, told The Jakarta Post on
\nSaturday that Indonesia stood a great chance of taking part in
\nthe Winter Olympics in bridge.<\/p>\n
\"First, Indonesia has to defend its world title in order to
\nsecure its place in the Winter Games. We can retain the title
\neither at the Bermuda Bowl or the IOC Grand Prix to secure our
\nplace in the 2002 Games.<\/p>\n
\"It's up to the IOC and WBF to invite countries to the event.
\nBut for the 2006 Winter Games, we will do our best to ensure
\nIndonesia's place,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Imran was interviewed on the sidelines of the opening ceremony
\nfor the 16th Navy Chief of Staff (KASAL) Cup open tournament at
\nthe Navy Officers House on Jl. Prapatan in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Currently, Indonesia holds the world bridge title. The
\nIndonesian team of Eddy Manoppo, Hengky Lasut, Frank Karwur and
\nDenny Sacul grabbed the title by defeating defending champion
\nItaly at the Third IOC Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland, last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The Fourth Grand Prix will also be held at the IOC
\nheadquarters in Lausanne, while Bali will host the Bermuda Bowl
\nsometime in October.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Gabsi chairman Wiranto said the association was
\nholding discussions with the Ministry of National Education's
\nDirectorate General of Elementary and Higher Education to arrange
\nto make bridge an elective in schools.<\/p>\n
\"This is part of our efforts to have more young bridge players
\nin the country,\" he said.<\/p>\n
At an intervarsity bridge tournament in the Netherlands last
\nAugust, the Indonesian team finished in 10th place out of 20
\ncountries from around the world. The first nine teams were all
\nfrom Europe.<\/p>\n
KASAL Cup<\/p>\n
Earlier in the morning, Wiranto officially opened the two-day
\nKASAL Cup, saying Gabsi's current success was the fruit of a hard
\nand long struggle.<\/p>\n
\"We did not win the world title by sheer luck, but through
\ncontinuous practice. We prepared the athletes for almost six
\nyears,\" he told the audience and bridge players.<\/p>\n
\"Gabsi even supports them by providing them allowances so that
\nthey can concentrate on practicing bridge without being bothered
\nwith their day-to-day necessities,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Indroko Sastrowiryono said the Navy
\nwould stage the KASAL Cup annually instead of biennially as soon
\nas the country's economic conditions allowed.<\/p>\n
\"Currently, the Navy finds it difficult to organize the event
\non an annual basis, but we will do our best as part of our
\ncontinuous support of bridge,\" he said in a written statement
\nread by Navy Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Adm. Fred Salem Lonan.<\/p>\n
Sixty-six teams are taking part in the open tournament. The
\nteams come from the Navy, seniors, bridge clubs and students.<\/p>\n
Prior to the open tournament, the Navy staged an internal
\ntournament on Thursday and Friday. Both events are organized by
\nthe Navy's Sea Transport Command (Kolinlamil).<\/p>\n
In the internal tournament, the Kolinlamil-A team won the
\nteam-of-four event with 117 points, followed by the Surabaya
\nNaval Main Base team with 116 points and the Bitung Naval Base
\nteam with 113 points.<\/p>\n
In the pairs event, Imran Mochtar and Kasmin grabbed first
\nplace, followed by Herry Pramono and Ronny Wowor, and Iskandar
\nand Prihanto. (nvn)<\/p>",
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