KL to finalize SEAG events next month<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Federation will
\nfinalize the number of sports event to be featured in the 2001
\nSEA Games in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 15.<\/p>\n
However, within one month of the finalization, some
\nparticipating countries are still trying to persuade host
\nMalaysia to add new sports events.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council (KONI) official in charge of
\nforeign affairs Indra Kartasasmita -- who just attended an SEA
\nGames executive meeting in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend -- said
\non Monday that Indonesia supported Myanmar for the inclusion of
\ncanoeing in the biennial event while Singapore had also asked the
\norganizers to include bodybuilding.<\/p>\n
\"Canoeing received eight votes while bodybuilding only
\nreceived four. Moreover, canoeing was featured in the 2000 Sydney
\nOlympics so it can be prioritized. The problem is, Malaysia's
\nNational Olympic Committee (NOC) does not get along very well
\nwith its canoeing federation and they won't set up an organizing
\ncommittee for the sport.\"<\/p>\n
\"But Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam have offered themselves to
\norganize canoeing if Malaysia fails to do so. Malaysia said it
\nwould consider the matter. But I think the idea of featuring
\nbodybuilding did not receive a warm welcome.\"<\/p>\n
A canoeing event could help increase Indonesia's gold rush in
\nthe Games.<\/p>\n
KONI vice chairmen Arie Sudewo, who is also an honorary member
\nof the federation, and Harsuki also attended the council meeting.
\nThe delegation also included Enny Hardjanto, KONI's official in
\ncharge of media and promotion, and Imron Z.S, the deputy director
\nof the SEA Games training program.<\/p>\n
Besides the sports event, the countries also asked for extra
\nevents in fencing (men's and women's team events), shooting
\n(men's and women's team events, men's and women's double trap),
\nwushu (sanshou men's 70-kgs) and weightlifting (women's 68-kgs
\nand 73-kgs) and women's and men's beach volleyball.<\/p>\n
Malaysia had earlier approved the featuring 32 sports offering
\n388 golds. It has also agreed to feature some women's events
\nincluding women's weightlifting and women's sepak takraw but they
\nwould be subject to a strict dress code.<\/p>\n
Indra, also the patron of the Indonesian Yachting and
\nWindsurfing Association (Porlasi), said Malaysia would not
\nautomatically approve all suggestions.<\/p>\n
\"Besides track and field and aquatic sports, the number of
\nmedals at stake must not exceed 5 percent of the total gold
\nmedals. Certain sports which are not Olympic events will likely
\nbe scrapped from the list,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Malaysian NOC will discuss all the suggestions at a
\nmeeting with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the
\nMalaysian Sports Council before reaching any decision.<\/p>\n
The organizers will issue the technical handbook on Feb. 15.<\/p>\n
\"After that day, there will be no further corrections,\"
\nHarsuki, who accompanied Indra, told reporters.<\/p>\n
He also asked Indonesian sports organizations, which still
\nwanted to add events, to actively lobby the host.<\/p>\n
\"The council meeting is over. So it's better for sports
\norganizations to lobby their Malaysian colleagues, the Malaysian
\nOlympic Council and its Sports Council. This is quite tough,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ahmed Solihin, KONI spokesman who is also the Indonesian
\nVolleyball Association (PBVSI) official in charge of foreign
\nrelations, said that PBVSI chairwoman Rita Subowo had requested
\nthe Southeast Asian volleyball federation to include beach
\nvolleyball in the Games. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kl-to-finalize-seag-events-next-month-1447893297",
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