Close cooperation and exchanges through sport are excellent ways to build bridges and develop stronger people-to-people links between Australia and Indonesia
Jakarta, Jan 20 (ANTARA) - Sports coaches, administrators, physiotherapists, professors, doctors and teachers were amongst the Indonesian participants in Wednesday`s sports seminar.


A media release of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on its official website said the seminar on Training Structures in Elite Sports: An International Perspective, was hosted by the Australian Embassy in cooperation with the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI).


The seminar attendees traveled from as far as Aceh and Surabaya, representing mainstream sports such as football and badminton, as well as traditional Indonesian sports such as Pencak Silat.


The seminar was presented by Australian strength and conditioning expert Dr. Jeremy Sheppard from the Queensland Academy of Sport, who also gathered his expertise working in Canada and Europe, in a number of sports including volleyball and American football.


Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty said "this is the second such seminar that we have hosted and the support shown by Indonesia`s sports sector has been overwhelming. These seminars are great examples of recent sports cooperation initiatives between Australia and Indonesia."


"Close cooperation and exchanges through sport are excellent ways to build bridges and develop stronger people-to-people links between Australia and Indonesia," Ambassador Moriarty added.


Secretary General of KOI Mr Arie Ariotedjo is a strong supporter of the cooperation in sport between Indonesia and Australia.


"We welcome any opportunities for our coaches and sports teachers to develop their skills, and I am confident that programs such as these seminars will positively impact Indonesia`s preparations for the South East Asian Games in November," Ariotedjo said.


Ambassador Moriarty also announced the opening of applications for the 2011 Australia-Indonesia Institute sponsored Allan Taylor Sports Grant - another Australian initiative designed to develop sport in Indonesia.


The grant commemorates the enormous contribution made to the bilateral relationship by a former Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, the late Mr Allan Taylor AM.


Taylor was a keen sportsperson so the grant aims to fund programs that increase opportunities for Indonesians to participate in sport and physical activity.


The 2010 Allan Taylor Sports Grant was awarded to KOI enabling them to run a one week strength and conditioning course for 25 coaches.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011