Rahardi to chair swimming body
Rahardi to chair swimming body
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Swimming Federation unveiled the
line-up of its new cabinet yesterday, to be chaired by Rahardi
Ramelan.
The federation's chairman of the electorate board, Ginandjar
Kartasasmita, said on announcing the line-up yesterday that
Rahardi will lead a crew of both old figures and new faces who
are expected to raise Indonesia's performance in this sport to
international standards.
Ginandjar is also State Minister of the National Development
Planning and Chairman of the National Development Board
(Bappenas). The country's former swimming stars Kristiono Sumono,
Gerald HP Item, Lukman Niode and Harly Ramayani are among the
executives of the swimming body.
Businessman Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo was named the official
in charge of human resource development.
Rahardi's appointment was a shoe-in after the other
candidates, former chairman Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo and Siti
Hediati Prabowo, declined the top job.
Sanyoto, however, remains with the swimming body with his new
post at the board of patrons, along with Ginanjar, Wardojo Kusumo
and Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar. Ginanjar heads the board of
patrons.
Rahardi, Ginandjar's deputy at Bappenas, will take the
federation's helm until the turn of the millenium. The federation
controls five sports: swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized
swimming and outdoor swimming.
"I promise to help the country regain its pride at the
Southeast Asian Games next year," Rahardi said after the
announcement.
Indonesia took a paltry collection of four golds from swimming
and diving at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last
year, the worst outcome yet.
Rahardi said that he was considering setting up a special team
who would prepare national aquatic athletes for the 1997 SEA
Games and the 1998 Asian Games. "I will announce who will take
charge of this crash program later," he said.
Rahardi admitted that he there would be a lot of hurdles en
route to winning at the SEA Games, especially because he has to
rely on veteran athletes.
"The time is too short. We cannot use new talent until 1999,"
Rahardi said. (amd)