KL to finalize SEAG events next month

KL to finalize SEAG events next month

JAKARTA (JP): The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Federation will
finalize the number of sports event to be featured in the 2001
SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 15.

However, within one month of the finalization, some
participating countries are still trying to persuade host
Malaysia to add new sports events.

The National Sports Council (KONI) official in charge of
foreign affairs Indra Kartasasmita -- who just attended an SEA
Games executive meeting in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend -- said
on Monday that Indonesia supported Myanmar for the inclusion of
canoeing in the biennial event while Singapore had also asked the
organizers to include bodybuilding.

"Canoeing received eight votes while bodybuilding only
received four. Moreover, canoeing was featured in the 2000 Sydney
Olympics so it can be prioritized. The problem is, Malaysia's
National Olympic Committee (NOC) does not get along very well
with its canoeing federation and they won't set up an organizing
committee for the sport."

"But Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam have offered themselves to
organize canoeing if Malaysia fails to do so. Malaysia said it
would consider the matter. But I think the idea of featuring
bodybuilding did not receive a warm welcome."

A canoeing event could help increase Indonesia's gold rush in
the Games.

KONI vice chairmen Arie Sudewo, who is also an honorary member
of the federation, and Harsuki also attended the council meeting.
The delegation also included Enny Hardjanto, KONI's official in
charge of media and promotion, and Imron Z.S, the deputy director
of the SEA Games training program.

Besides the sports event, the countries also asked for extra
events in fencing (men's and women's team events), shooting
(men's and women's team events, men's and women's double trap),
wushu (sanshou men's 70-kgs) and weightlifting (women's 68-kgs
and 73-kgs) and women's and men's beach volleyball.

Malaysia had earlier approved the featuring 32 sports offering
388 golds. It has also agreed to feature some women's events
including women's weightlifting and women's sepak takraw but they
would be subject to a strict dress code.

Indra, also the patron of the Indonesian Yachting and
Windsurfing Association (Porlasi), said Malaysia would not
automatically approve all suggestions.

"Besides track and field and aquatic sports, the number of
medals at stake must not exceed 5 percent of the total gold
medals. Certain sports which are not Olympic events will likely
be scrapped from the list," he said.

The Malaysian NOC will discuss all the suggestions at a
meeting with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the
Malaysian Sports Council before reaching any decision.

The organizers will issue the technical handbook on Feb. 15.

"After that day, there will be no further corrections,"
Harsuki, who accompanied Indra, told reporters.

He also asked Indonesian sports organizations, which still
wanted to add events, to actively lobby the host.

"The council meeting is over. So it's better for sports
organizations to lobby their Malaysian colleagues, the Malaysian
Olympic Council and its Sports Council. This is quite tough," he
said.

Ahmed Solihin, KONI spokesman who is also the Indonesian
Volleyball Association (PBVSI) official in charge of foreign
relations, said that PBVSI chairwoman Rita Subowo had requested
the Southeast Asian volleyball federation to include beach
volleyball in the Games. (ivy)