Hasan seeks second term in Asian athletics body
Hasan seeks second term in Asian athletics body
JAKARTA (JP): As the Asian Amateur Athletic Association
congress draws near, chances are that timber tycoon Mohammad
"Bob" Hasan--the association's incumbent president--is dreaming
of being reelected for a second term.
"I think many (member countries) will choose Indonesia," Hasan
said. It goes without saying that Hasan is set to becoming
president again. He maintains that his reelection would be
beneficial for the country's athletic development.
Under his management, Hasan stressed, certain administrative
improvements in the management of member countries have been
made, marketing programs to finance various association
competitions have been launched and financial aid to poor member
countries has been extended.
Being the association's president for four years, Hasan also
named the major shortcomings of Asian athletes, especially those
who come from developing or under-developing countries.
He cited lack of standard athletic facilities, lack of good
physicians, lack of opportunity for tryouts, eating and drinking
habits and lack of discipline as the most lamentable drawbacks.
Hasan now faces only one rival for the presidential seat, a
Kuwaiti sheik, at the Sept. 19 congress, after the withdrawal of
one other contender, a Saudi Arabian prince.
Opening
One day after the congress, Sept. 20, President Soeharto is
scheduled to open the 11th Asian Athletic Championships in the
Senayan Madya stadium, which will last until Sept. 24.
Thirty five countries have named their athletes, including
some world champions, for the Rp 6.7 billion (US$2.95 million)
meet.
As of yesterday, 40 member countries of the association have
confirmed that they will take part in the four-yearly congress,
to be held in the Shangri La hotel in Jakarta. Five other
countries, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Palestine and
Turkmenistan, are yet to fix their participation.
President of the International Amateur Athletic Federation,
Primo Nebiolo, notified Hasan yesterday that he would not be able
to come, and has asked Hasan to represent him.
As for Indonesia's chances of winning any medals in the
largest athletic meet in Asia, Hasan said that the chances were
not many.
"Standard Asian performances are still beyond our reach," he
said. But it will be a good rehearsal for the Dec. 9 to Dec. 17
Southeast Asian Games (in Chiang Mai, Thailand), as well as good
exposure for the country's junior athletes, he added. (arf)