Swimming federation's new chief expected to raise much funds
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)