Soesilo vows to develop sports in remote areas

Soesilo vows to develop sports in remote areas

JAKARTA (JP): Soesilo Soedarman was re-elected the chairman of
the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding
Association yesterday with two heavy tasks awaiting his
attention.

Soesilo, who is also coordinating minister for political and
security affairs, won unanimously in yesterday's election which
highlighted the association's national congress here.

All provincial branches of the association decided to give the
retired Army general his second four-year term, saying that he
was the right man to lead the sports to a new high.

"I will focus my policies on the development of the sports in
remote regions of the country by sending more training equipment,
financial aid and taking other measures," Soesilo said after his
reelection.

He said that such a massive campaign, fueled by the
government's distribution of wealth, is aimed at helping under-
developing local talents catch up with their world-beating
countrymen.

"It's true that we need a lot of money, but I'm not afraid of
that," Soesilo said. He said a group of timber companies led by
tycoon Mohammad 'Bob' Hasan had agreed to financially support the
program. Soesilo, however, refused to disclose the budget he has
set for the program.

Soesilo said that his new tenure period will be filled with an
all-out effort to improve the standard of living of the country's
best musclemen and women by giving them permanent jobs.

Many lifters who won medals in the Southeast Asian Games,
either in 1991 or 1993, have been admitted in state-companies.
Thirty medalists now work at PT Telkom and another 11 at PT Pos
Indonesia.

Soesilo said that the association is still negotiating with PT
Pos Indonesia about the recruitment of 17 lifters who took home
medals at the 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, last
December.

The association is now setting its sights on winning more
tickets to the Olympic Games in Atlanta this summer.

Soesilo said that several male lifters, who won the national
championships recently, would participate in the international
weightlifting meet in Yachio, Japan, a qualifying round for the
Olympics, scheduled to take place between April 4 and 9.

Soesilo has one month to line up his staff.

"I'll discuss appointments as soon as possible. I hope that I
can make an official announcement in one month's time," he said.
(05/amd)