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)