N. Korea proposes exchange of coaches and players with RI

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesia-North Korea friendship institution has suggested an exchange of coaches and players in a bid to boost both countries' sports relationships.

Indonesia's ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or North Korea, Buchari Effendi, said on Monday that the institution wanted Indonesian softball and badminton coaches or players to train North Korea's athletes.

Effendi said North Korea had offered to send its table tennis coaches or players to Indonesia for brief training sessions with Indonesian athletes.

"The institution hoped that it could send coaches here to learn badminton and softball or that Indonesia could send its coaches and players of the sports to train in North Korea," he said.

He cited a cultural agreement between Indonesia and North Korea to support the proposal.

"The North Koreans wished to complete the agreement to develop their national sports," said Effendi, who is currently on leave and visited the National Sports Council (KONI) on Monday to meet with chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, vice chairman Arie Sudewo, secretary general Rudolf S. Warouw and the official in charge of planning and budgeting, Togi Hutagaol.

Effendi said the institution had officially asked for softball coaches from Indonesia in June 1999, but there had been no response as yet. He said that he would send a formal request to the ministry of education and culture, who signed the agreement.

He added that the North Koreans had yet to confirm the stipend for the Indonesian sports officials. He also said that North Koreans basically had potential athletes in store.

"The North Koreans had another problem on their minds. Is it possible that Indonesia would hire coaches from this country for a year at most? It has promising athletes, but they are hardly heard of because they seldom take part in international events," he said.

Effendi said the last performance of the North Korean athletes was in the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, where they finished eighth with seven gold, 14 silver and 12 bronze medals. Indonesia was 11th with six gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals.

"There are many sports in North Korea. The athletes have been groomed in certain sports from a young age. They are later selected to join the national team which could sharpen their skills. They later become experts in certain sports," he said.

Arie said that KONI would evaluate the possibility of an exchange. "We must discuss it with the sports organization and the state minister of youth affairs and sports, because the agreement was between the governments of both countries." (ivy)