Grand reunion for national athletes planned on Feb. 11
Grand reunion for national athletes planned on Feb. 11
JAKARTA (JP): For many years, Indonesian athletes have been
concerned about their future after their prime years as an
athlete are over. Many examples of former athletes who live a
disgraceful life displaying no trace of their past glories have
discouraged youngsters wishing to start a career as athletes.
Very few of them have managed to continue studies and become
successful achievers.
On Feb. 11, a group consisting of former and present athletes,
entrepreneurs and academicians called Yayasan Prestasi Anak
Bangsa (YPAB), a human resources foundation, will stage a grand
reunion for national athletes from three generations at the
Senayan indoor stadium.
Chief of the organizing committee Purnomo Mochamad Yudhi told
a media briefing on Thursday that the foundation wanted to
collect information on former athletes as it has had difficulty
searching for them through their sports organizations.
"We don't know the whereabouts of former national athletes so
we have no idea what has happened to them. We also observed that
the current athletes have difficulty in excelling in many
regional and international sports events."
"So we decided to stage this reunion to find out where they
live, what they do and how they spend their lives," said the
former sprinter who managed to enter the quarterfinals of the
100m-dash in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
Purnomo, now the marketing manager at PT Berca Sportindo, said
that during the reunion the organizers will also inaugurate the
Indonesian Athletes Association and elect the chairman and other
officials.
"Athletes will feel comfortable when they can shelter under an
association. We hope they will be more focused in improving their
achievement. We also want to develop support for athletes who are
still active."
"We realize that athletes are the ones who receive the blame
when they lose in a competition. Coaches and officials never have
to shoulder the burden. The association is not a legal aid
institute, but it can help the related sports institutions to
achieve their best in the international sports community."
Ferry Sonneville, former badminton hero who chairs YPAB, said
that the foundation would also help those who were less fortunate
and those who could not afford education and training.
"The National Sports Council (KONI) concentrates on sports
development but they have ignored individual development, such as
how to boost the athlete's brain power with special prana (inner)
energy," he said.
He cited an example of men's shuttler Hendrawan, whom he said
would have won the 2000 Sydney Olympics men's singles if he knew
how to control his breath with a special meditation technique to
increase his power.
"This is very small matter, but such an insignificant thing
can yield great results," he said.
All athletes are invited and expected to register themselves
at the YPAB Secretariat on the fifth floor of Citra Graha
building, Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 35-36, Jakarta 12950, or contact
tel.: (021) 5207500/5224458, fax No.: (021)5224454 and e-mail
address at waowcard@cbn.net.id.
"We will try to help athletes who live outside Jakarta and can
not afford their transportation and accommodation fees," said
Ferry. (ivy)