50 hopefuls will compete for MAT

50 hopefuls will compete for MAT

JAKARTA (JP): PT Philip Morris Indonesia will hold the local
competition for its adventure program Marlboro Adventure Team
(MAT) Winter Challenge 2000 at Bromo Mountain, East Java, late
January.

"We have picked 50 candidates for the local competition which
will determine the 10 participants for the Winter Challenge
Adventure Team," marketing manager David Tjokro told reporters on
Thursday during a breaking of the fast gathering.

"This adventure program is the largest ever since we started
in 1995 and the first to take place in winter. Previously, we
held it during the summer."

Company' records show that the program has attracted some
500,000 applicants since it was launched. The program has been
organized annually since 1995 except in 1998 when the effects of
the economic crisis were most severe.

The local competition is scheduled to take place from Jan. 26
to Jan. 28 at the Bromo mountain resort to stimulate the wintry
conditions of the adventure from Telluride tundra, Colorado, to
Moab desert, Utah, from March 20 to March 28.

The adventure will take place during spring instead of winter
to enable the Indonesian team members to adapt to the climate.

The local competition will include waterskiing, jetskiing,
cross country, obstacle course, swimming, rock climbing, jeep and
all terrain vehicle (ATV) driving.

The real adventure in Colorado and Utah will feature jeep
driving, hiking, ATV, rodeo, horse riding, ranch life and
repelling.

Commenting on Bromo's recent volcanic activity, David said the
company had prepared contingency plans.

"We have sent an advance team there who have reported that the
conditions are just fine. But we have prepared contingency plans
should anything happen," he said convincingly. (nvn)