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)