National athletes to take media course

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)