Bob Hasan among 12 new IOC members

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian timber tycoon Mohammad "Bob" Hasan was among 12 new members elected yesterday to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in place of Dadang Suprayogi, who retired.

Bob, as Indonesia's representative for the world's sports governing body, will serve his term until he reaches 75 years of age.

Timbul Thomas Lubis, vice secretary general of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KONI), said yesterday KONI had proposed the timber baron for the position in 1989 when Suprayogi, then KONI chairman, retired.

The late Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX was the first Indonesian IOC member. His seat was taken by Dadang when Sultan was elected as the republic's Vice President in 1972.

Bob is also president of the Asian Amateur Athletics Association (AAAA) and KONI vice chairman. Bob and another five individuals served as replacements for members who retired or died in office.

The other replacement members were James Easton of the United States, Craig Reedie of Britain, Mario Pescante of Italy, Gerhard Heiberg of Norway and Arne Ljungqvist of Sweden.

Reuters news agency reported yesterday that the vote, which brought the strength of the organization to 100 for the first time, also elected former Olympic sprint champion Valery Borzov. Borzov, winner of gold medals in the 100m and 200m at the Munich Olympics in 1972, is now the Ukrainian sports minister.

The other five new seats went to Austin Sealy of Barbados, Robin Mitchell of Fiji, Alpha Ibrahim Diallo of Guinea, Alex Gilady of Israel and Shamil Tarpishev of Russia.

All 12 members were voted in by the IOC session on the last of 11 days of talks marking the centenary of the modern Olympic movement.

None of those elected won their IOC seats through a new rule passed on Sunday, allowing president Juan Antonio Samaranch to name up to 10 new members, subject to a veto by the session.

Samaranch is expected to appoint several international federation presidents at the next session in Budapest next June. (amd)