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)