Swimming federation's new chief expected to raise much funds
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) outgoing chairman, Rahardi Ramelan, has expressed hope that the new chairman of the organization will raise as much funds as possible to finance its athletes' development programs.
"I hope the new chairman will be able to raise funds to finance development programs. Especially to send swimmers abroad for training and study either in the United States or Australia," he said after opening the PRSI national congress at Hotel Santika, West Jakarta, on Sunday.
"It's really difficult to encourage PRSI donors to finance our programs to intensify competitions in the country. It's a cliche to say that funds remain the biggest obstacle in developing of not only swimming, but sports," he said.
Rahardi, who replaced Ginanjar Kartasasmita in 1996, said that should he be reelected, he would not shy away from the responsibility.
"It's too early to know if the congress will reelect me. But one thing is for sure, I will commit to this sport's development," he said.
Two candidates, military commander Admiral Widodo Adisutjipto and Minister of Industry and Trade Jusuf Kalla, have turned down offers to chair PRSI "due to the their tight schedules".
Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and businessman Arifin Panigoro have yet to give their response to offers of running for the position.
Rahardi said the new chairman was expected to improve Indonesian swimmers' performance at international competitions, specially the Olympics.
"We have qualified eight swimmers for the Olympics. New PRSI officials must work hard in arranging the training and trying out programs prior to the Olympics," he said.
The eight athletes are Richard Sam Bera, Wisnu Wardhana, Felix C. Sutanto, Albert C. Sutanto, Akbar Nasution and Steven Chandra in the men's team and Elsa Manora Nasution and Siripiya Sutanto in the women's team.
They will compete in one of the Grand Prix Final series in Hong Kong on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 as a warm up for the Asia Championships in Pusan, South Korea, in March.
Rahardi said he hoped the congress could also ratify the organization's rules on the classification of clubs.
"I hope that in the future, clubs will be divided based on divisions. The main-division clubs are allowed to join the congress to contribute their ideas on athletes' development," he said.
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mahadi Sinambela, said in his opening speech that PRSI was expected to work with the private sector in providing international-standard swimming pools, open swimming schools in provinces and stage more competitions.
The congress was attended by PRSI representatives from 20 provinces. Central Java, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara chapters skipped the congress without any notice, while Maluku and Central Sulawesi did not send representatives as they have not had any officials for 12 years.
The congress will end on Monday with the election of new officials and legalizing the results of the technical commission congress. (yan)