RI to host junior world swimming meet

RI to host junior world swimming meet

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will host the 1999 Junior World
Swimming Championships, the chief of the sport's governing body
announced yesterday.

Chairman of the International Amateur Swimming Federation
(FINA) Mohammad Larfaoui said on the second day of his official
visit here that Indonesia's facilities meet the standards
required for a world-level event.

The Algerian-born sports chief said that he will help the
country build additional facilities for the championships, the
first world-class swimming meet ever to be held in Indonesia.

Chairman of the Indonesian Swimming Federation Rahardi
Ramelan, who met with Larfaoui yesterday, said that the country's
successful bid came a little bit late. "FINA has named hosts of
all world events from 1996 to 1998. We are lucky to bring in one
in 1999," Ramelan said.

The junior championships look certain to take place at the
Senayan swimming pool.

Larfaoui also revealed his plan to introduce three more short-
distance events in addition to the regular 50-meter freestyle.
"We consider contesting 50 meters in backstroke, butterfly and
breaststroke to give the sport more attractions," Larfaoui said.

He said he expected to see the proposal adopted as soon as
possible so that the new disciplines can make appearances in the
2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Another modification has been introduced for water polo,
according to Larfoaui. A women's competition is expected to add
spice to the existing men's category.

The length of the pool and the number of members in each
competing team will also be changed for this sport. The water
polo event will now feature six-a-side teams playing in a 25m-
long pool. Currently a team consists of seven players who compete
in 30m-long pool. (amd)