PASI faces problems finding new chairman
PASI faces problems finding new chairman
JAKARTA (JP): Athletics' lack of popularity is seen as the
main factor behind the difficulty the Indonesian Amateur
Athletics Association (PASI) is having in finding a new chairman.
PASI official Purnomo said on Thursday that businesspeople
were not interested in spending their money to develop athletics
because it was unprofitable.
"Athletics is different from soccer, tennis or badminton,
which can always attract people to watch the games. In PASI, a
chairman must spend Rp 4 billion (US$563,380) a year on routine
expenses without any hope of reward because our athletes are not
professionals," said the former sprinter.
PASI will hold a one-day national congress to elect a new
chairman on Tuesday. Current chairman Muhammad "Bob" Hasan has
led the organization since 1979.
"If Pak Bob was reelected for about 20 years it was not merely
because of his ambition to keep the post, but because none of our
businesspeople wanted to invest their money developing sports,"
Purnomo said.
Former sprinter JEW Gosal said Bob was still needed to chair
PASI, but he must appoint someone who can improve the
organization's management, which he said was currently
unqualified.
"Pak Bob must appoint a person who understands athletics and
can manage the organization to improve the athlete development
system," said Gosal, who also is an official with the National
Sports Council.
"Money means nothing if the management performs poorly. The
way I see it, PASI officials have been put to sleep by the large
cash flow from Pak Bob, making them unable to act independently
in their management decisions and programs," he said.
Prior to the congress, PASI will hold its four-day national
championships featuring 470 athletes from 26 provinces.
PASI secretary-general Barmawi Chaidir said five of the
association's athletes -- women's long-distance runner Supriati
Sutono, women's marathoner Ruwiyati, men's sprinter John Murray,
men's pole vaulter Nunung Jayadi and women's triple jumper Nyoman
Rae Trisandiana -- were expected to improve their personal bests
and qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
To qualify the athletes must meet the following times and
distances: women's 5,000 meters (15:55.00) and 10,000m
(33:20.00); marathon (2h 45.00); men's 200m (20.90); men's pole
vault (5.45m); and women's triple jump (13.95m).
Sprinter Irene T. Joseph qualified for the Olympics by
clocking 11.56 seconds in the 100 meters at the 1999 Southeast
Asian Games, beating the Olympic qualifying time by 0.04 seconds.
Chaidir said Ruwiyati would have to compete in the regional
marathon championships in Singapore and Manila because the
national championships would not feature the marathon.
He also said he had urged Supriati, who has been battling a
foot injury, to withdraw from the championships.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela is
expected to open the championships at Senayan Madya Stadium.
PASI also will sign a memorandum of understanding with the
head of the Jakarta Soccer School Association, Ronny
Pattinasarany, during the opening ceremony. Soccer Association of
Indonesia chairman Agum Gumelar is expected to attend the
signing. (ivy/yan)