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)