Indonesians to receive training as good fans

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has appointed a tourism bureau to organize Indonesians going to the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Prior to their departure, Indonesian supporters will get special 'training' on how to become proper morale boosters for their favorite athletes at the Games, said KONI's public relations chief Ishadi SK.

"It's not an easy job because unlike Bangkok or Singapore, which attract many tourists, Chiang Mai is not a main tourism destination," said Nunung Nurachman of Target Holiday who expects a large herd of supporters.

Moreover, limited accommodation services in Chiang Mai make it necessary to book hotels as early as possible with advance payments. Chiang Mai's hotels and 41 guest houses provide only 14,000 rooms, he said.

Nurachman said he is still in negotiation with the country's flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to arrange direct flights from Jakarta to Chiang Mai without a stop-over in Bangkok.

The prices range between US$1,250 to $1,750 and includes a return ticket, hotel accommodation and meals.

Rowing

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Rowing Association announced it will send 18 rowers to take part in the Southeast Asian Rowing Championships in Singapore.

In addition, 15 rowers will go to Chengdu, China, to participate in the Asian Canoeing Championship, slated to begin on Oct. 2, before leaving for Shanghai for the Asian Rowing Championships which will start on Oct. 11.

"We have set no target at the Asian Rowing Championships. But we are optimistic we will win the Southeast Asian championships," said Basuki, the association's chairman.

At the 1993 Southeast Asian rowing meet in Malaysia, Indonesia took all the 10 gold medals up for grabs. At last year's SEA rowing championship in Myanmar, Indonesia remained the holder of the overall title, though its medal haul declined to four.

Basuki said his canoeing team could surprise some in Chengdu because "we have a very strong six-member team for the polo canoeing event."

Basuki, however, said that the 15 athletes going to China had nothing to do with the association's SEA Games preparations because the SEA Games are not going to feature all the events at the Asian meet.

"Our SEA Games rowing team is still seriously training at West Java's Jatiluhur dam. They're trying to familiarize themselves with the new oars to be used in the Dec. 9 to Dec. 17 SEA Games," Basuki said.

"Host Thailand has made a strange regulation concerning the oars," Basuki added, "they cannot have handles." (arf)