Athletes promised jobs after weightlifting
Athletes promised jobs after weightlifting
JAKARTA (JP): Weightlifters who perform to the best of their ability will have no problem finding a job when their sporting days are over, said Soesilo Soedarman, chairman of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association.
"Lifters who honor the country can rest assured that they will find employment," the newly re-elected chairman told reporters on Saturday. Soesilo was briefing reporters on the association's new administrative lineups and programs.
Soesilo said he was not paying lip service. "We have helped many lifters find jobs in the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications' provincial offices," he said.
Soesilo, also the coordinating minister for political affairs and security, was once the Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications.
Assuring athletes of life after lifting is a means of motivation, he said. Almost all Indonesian lifters come from low- income families. Most, if they finish school, have only high school degrees. As a result, many become lifters to alleviate family financial burdens or to live better lives.
Soesilo said the association has introduced a human resources department to recruit holders of masters degrees in sports and health education to help lifters and bodybuilders achieve optimum results.
Soesilo also promised to extend more financial aid and equipment to the association's provincial chapters to support their local athletes.
Soesilo said that the association is looking forward to see how its athletes finish at April's Asian men's weightlifting championships in Japan. Indonesia will send 10 lifters to the meet, which serves as the last Olympic qualifying round for Asian lifters. "If they manage to win Indonesian Olympic berths, we will ask the National Sports Council to consider sending them to the Atlanta Olympics in July," Soesilo said. The championships, to be held in Yachio, 30 kilometers from Tokyo, offer a total of five Olympic berths, two for the winner and one each for those who finish second to fourth. (arf)
New lineup of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association for the 1996/2000 period: Chairman: Soesilo Soedarman. Executive director: Budiono Kartohadiprodjo Secretary-general: Djoko Pramono Weightlifting commission: Yaya Sunarya, Harry Wibowo, P. Tarigan Powerlifting commission: Warsito, Hadi Wiharja Bodybuilding commission: Ronald Riupassa, Yopie Irawan