Women meet to discuss their future role in sport

JAKARTA (JP): These days, women are expected to assume more prominent roles in public life, including in the sports arena.

A three-day IAAF/AAAA Women's Athletics Symposium, which was opened yesterday at the Hilton Executive Club, turned into an arena to discuss increase women's involvement in international sports.

Carmen Jahya, the deputy of the National Sports Council's Sports Scientific Center told The Jakarta Post that she would be working together with the Indonesian Sports Women Association.

"We're not talking about emancipation here but about the role of women in sports in general," she added.

Carmen, who was elected chairman of the special task force for women's issues, said that Indonesia had few female coaches or athletes.

Ilse Bechthold from Germany said in her speech that setting up female committees could help put women in decision-making positions.

"Women should analyze the present situation so their function becomes clearer," said the chairman of the IAAF Women's Committee.

IAAF has decided to name 1998 "Year of Women in Athletics". This will not only be symbolic, but will be the year for women to come forward, Bechthold hoped.

Moslem

During the symposium, the problems of women in Moslem countries cropped up. They are often barred from competition because of their religion.

Islam only allows women to appear in public after covering their bodies apart from their faces and palms.

"Due to our religion, women in our country never represent the country in international events like the Olympics," a representative of Iran said.

"We should observe the culture and tradition of foreign countries; women can adapt to the situation," Lim Ah Seoh of Malaysia said.

"In my country, university students have designed comfortable clothes for Muslim women," Lim, the presenter of the symposium, added.

Lim, who is a project manager of the National Sports Council of Malaysia, said that to overcome barriers like religion, culture and tradition, special Olympics could be held for women.

"I agree with her idea but I don't know about other countries. Will they agree to take part in these "special" Olympics?" said a participant.

Indonesia

Guenter Lange, the Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association's consultant, said that although the number of women in the federation was low, they achieved more than men.

"We have 30 female coaches who have IAAF level one certificates, and three of them are qualified for the higher level. This means 10 percent are qualified," he said. "Out of the 304 men, only 21 are qualified, only seven percent," he added.

Lange said that Indonesian female athletes should be plotting strategies to get involved in decision-making. (05)