Fri, 04 Feb 2000

Volleyball body to announce new officials next week

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) is likely to announce its new committee members after reporting to the National Sports Council (KONI) next Friday.

PBVSI spokesman and its official in charge of foreign affairs Ahmed Solihin said on Thursday a special task force led by former executive chairwoman Rita Subowo would meet National Police chief Lt. Gen. Rusdihardjo to request he head PBVSI's board of patrons.

In a departure from the usual custom of prominent public figures and military officials willingly heading sports association, Rusdihardjo earlier turned down the offer.

PBVSI appointed Rita to lead the task force which will set up the new committee during the association's national congress, to be held at the volleyball training center in Sentul, West Java.

"The task force will also meet Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, former PBVSI chairwoman, to ask her advice, particularly on financial affairs. After that, the team will report on the new committee to KONI on Feb. 11. PBVSI will hold a news conference on the same day," he said.

Hardiyanti is the eldest daughter of former president Soeharto.

Ahmed said interim committee members would not make major decisions before the new committee was set up.

"The congress has decided that the former executive members would continue to conduct daily affairs, but they would not make major decisions," he said.

Ahmed also confirmed the association would send two women's beach volleyballers from West Nusa Tenggara, Timi Yudani and Elizabeth, to the First Asian Women's Beach Volleyball Circuit in Manila (not in Bangkok, Thailand, as reported on Thursday) from Feb. 11 to Feb. 13.

The pair was picked after winning the prequalifying round for the 15th National Games (PON), he said.

"They can do the warmup in Manila for PON. But they must pay the transportation and the accommodation on their own. They must find their own sponsors. We will only try to make sure they are exempt from the exit tax," he said. (ivy)