ITB encourages swimming

BANDUNG, West Java: If rector Wiranto Arismundandar's dream comes true, the prestigious Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) may be turned into the Bandung "swimming institute."

Wiranto wants all ITB students and anyone working at the institute, without exception, to be able to swim, because sea constitutes 70 percent of Indonesia's territory.

To drown is embarrassing for people from a maritime country like Indonesia, he said.

"Not only that, we also have to master maritime science and technology," he told 1,400 new ITB graduates of masters and doctoral programs.

Wiranto was obviously serious about implementing his idea. The state institute has been building an Olympic size swimming pool and establishing a sports research and development center, Antara reported. (imn)