N. Korea proposes exchange of coaches and players with RI

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)