National athletes to take media course

JAKARTA (JP): Print and electronic media have come to play an increasingly important role in the world of sports.

Press coverage has helped athletes to become idols for millions of people. In return, many of the athletes are expected to please their fans with colorful statements and performances.

However, Indonesia's athletes are still learning how to deal with the media. To help them, the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association is arranging a course on media for the end of the year

"The course will teach them the importance of media coverage," said Nia Sarinastiti Regar, the association's public relations manager.

"The two or three-day course will teach them how to deal with the media, how to pose naturally with style and class," she added.

Speaking on the second day of the association's three-day symposium, Nia said that athletes should be more active in speaking with the media.

"They have to be willing to answer questions in order to maintain and increase their popularity," she told 100 participants from more than 15 countries.

"As idols, athletes should be open to the public. Fans want to know about their idols' daily activities," she added.

Nia said that national women athletes received more coverage than men during the Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, last year.

She said that although women won fewer medals than the men, they received much more media coverage. Indonesia earned only seven track and field gold medals in the SEA Games, three of which came from women athletes.

"When I was doing a study on media athletes, I didn't include their achievements. I only studied the media coverage they received," she told The Jakarta Post.

"We have to admit that women are physically more attractive for readers as are their styles on the track," she added.

Nia said that women athletes should be able to use media coverage to boost the images of themselves, the sport and even the country. (yan)