RI to host Asian athletics c'ship

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will host the Asian track and field championship for the third time at the Madya athletic stadium here from Aug. 2 to Aug. 5, the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) chairman Bob Hasan said on Monday.

Bob said that the 43 events would be featured at the championship, which would be attended by top Asian athletes from 48 countries as members of the Asian Amateur Athletic Association (AAAA).

"The championships will also serve as warm-up tournaments for national and Asian athletes ahead of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney in September," Bob said. He is also AAAA's president and the senior vice president of the Olympic Committee of Asia.

Indonesia hosted the championship in 1985 and 1995.

Bob said that he had difficulties in setting the target for the national athletes in the championship because he had no idea on the progress of athletes from other countries.

He was quoted by Antara as saying that an AAAA congress would be held beforehand to elect the new president. He, however, failed to say when the congress begins. (ivy)