PRSI to provide scholarships for swimmers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Indonesian Swimming Federation
\n(PRSI) Rahardi Ramelan vowed on Friday to provide scholarships
\nfor talented swimmers wishing to pursue higher education in the
\nUnited States and Australia.<\/p>\n
He said the education system in both countries allowed
\nswimmers to maintain their careers while studying.<\/p>\n
He said he would seek sponsorships from local companies to pay
\nfor the students' studies, in exchange for use of the firms'
\nlogos on their sports clothes.<\/p>\n
He said the scholarships would be based on need.<\/p>\n
\"If they want to be successful in the pool and in their
\nstudies, they have to go this way. But I will have to find
\nsponsorships. Hopefully, there will be companies who are
\ninterested in giving scholarships to the swimmers,\" he said after
\nannouncing the new PRSI officials for 2000 to 2003.<\/p>\n
Young swimmers have traditionally faced difficulties in
\nchoosing between their studies and swimming. Most high schools
\nand universities here do not include sports training in their
\neducation system, and many talented swimmers have given up the
\nsport to concentrate on their studies.<\/p>\n
Rahardi, who was reelected to a second term as PRSI chairman
\nlast December, said the federation succeeded in grooming swimmer
\nRichard Sam Bera to be a national and regional standout and
\nfinanced his studies in political science and economics at
\nArizona State University through his graduation in 1997.<\/p>\n
Twin brothers Albert Christiadi and Felix Christiadi Sutanto
\nwere not so lucky. They were forced to quit their studies at
\nGolden West College, Huntington Beach, California, due to the
\nmonetary crisis in 1998.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the new organizational structure, Rahardi said
\nhe wanted to focus on developing junior swimmers instead of
\nspending money to train veterans to go for top honors in many
\ncompetitions.<\/p>\n
\"We have spent about 80 percent of our resources to groom
\nsenior swimmers so they can scoop as many golds as they can in
\nevery competition. As a consequence, we don't have second
\nstringers. There are the third stringers but they are still
\ndeveloping.\"<\/p>\n
Lineup<\/p>\n
He has retained Lisa F. Siregar in charge of competition and
\nappointed former secretary-general Patuan Parluhutan Simatupang
\nfor athlete development. Patuan's post was handed over to
\nAbdurrahim, who will be assisted by Dadeng Kurnia.<\/p>\n
Rahardi, former minister of trade and industry, also formed a
\nspecial board on commercial, media and promotional activities,
\nwhich is headed by Patuan. Former national swimmers Elfira R.
\nNasution and Lukman Niode were appointed secretary and commercial
\ndirector respectively, while Gusti Ayu Made Sadrini will now take
\non double duties as the media and promotion director and the
\nfederation's public relations officer.<\/p>\n
Rahardi said seven swimmers -- Richard, Albert, Felix, Wisnu
\nWardhana, Elsa Manora Nasution, M. Akbar Nasution and Siripiya
\nSutanto -- would attend the World Cup meets in Berlin from Feb. 5
\nto Feb. 6 and Paris from Feb. 12 to Feb. 13.<\/p>\n
They are being used as warm-up events for the 2000 Olympic
\nGames. Except for Siripiya, the swimmers have qualified for the
\nOlympics.<\/p>\n
They, along with 15 other swimmers, four divers and four
\nsynchronized swimmers, will take part in the Asian Swimming
\nChampionship in Pusan, South Korea, from March 29 to April 2.<\/p>\n
\"Our swimmers and divers who have not qualified for the
\nOlympics must reach the top five for the individual event and the
\ntop three in the team event,\" Patuan said. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prsi-to-provide-scholarships-for-swimmers-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}