Rahardi reelected as swimming body chairman

Rahardi reelected as swimming body chairman

JAKARTA (JP): Rahardi Ramelan was unanimously reelected
chairman of the Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) for a
second four-year term in the two-day national congress which
ended on Monday.

Rahardi, who replaced Ginandjar Kartasasmita in 1996, will
appoint new officials together with PRSI provincial chapter
representative Taufiqurrohman and sports expert Mangombar
Ferdinand Siregar within 30 days.

Four other candidates -- military commander Adm. Widodo
Adisutjipto, Minister of Industry and Trade Jusuf Kalla, Minister
of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and businessman
Arifin Panigoro -- turned down the nomination due to their tight
schedules.

"I told the congress participants to pick somebody who is
better than I am, but they have tried to convince me to accept
the responsibility. I accept the decision wholeheartedly due to
my commitment to PRSI," Rahardi said in a dinner with athletes
and officials of PRSI chapters at Hotel Santika, West Jakarta.

Rahardi said he would conduct all the congress' decisions to
separate the technical commissions with competition affairs.

"Technical commission officials should not raise funds to
finance the competitions. We will do it separately and not use
our routine expenses," he said.

Rahardi said the main challenge in his new term would be fund-
raising.

"Swimming is an impossible sport to sell because the athletes
are always under water, and even when they show up they are
wearing goggles. It's not easy to televise swimming events even
if we use underwater cameras.

"I prefer to encourage big companies to sponsor clubs in order
to develop them in creating national swimmers. I will also urge
swimming competition organizers to feature age group of nine and
10 in an effort to seek young talent.

"Besides those children, parents will definitely come to the
pool to boost their children's spirit and it will make the
competitions interesting."

National swimmer Richard Sam Bera said the new PRSI officials
must include athletes for the next term.

"An athletes commission is needed to harmonize the
relationships between officials and athletes. So far, the
relationship remains formal. We can't talk freely to the
officials because we feel there is a gap between us," said
Richard, who added that younger athletes would meet the
requirement to be members of the athletes commission.

Swimming coach Radja Nasution expressed hope that PRSI would
be consistent in grooming athletes specially for the 2000
Olympics.

"If the main problem was merely the funding, I think the new
officials must prepare the funds as early as possible," he said.

Diving coach Harly Ramayani hoped Rahardi would pay more
attention to divers, particularly in sending them abroad for
short-time training programs.

Water polo coach Boyke Mulyana said PRSI must hold training in
some provinces and work together with students training centers.
PRSI also has to increase the frequency of competitions and
develop mini water polo in an effort to promote water polo
throughout the country. (yan)