ASEAN Sports Ministers To Establish Coordinating Board

Yogyakarta (Antara Bali) - ASEAN Sport Ministers here on Wednesday agreed to establish a single coordinating board, Indonesian Sports Minister Andi Mallaranggeng said.

"In order to support the ASEAN goal to form a single community by 2015 and boost the region's achievement in sports especially in  global events, ASEAN Sports Ministers agree to establish a coordinating board," said the minister after attending an ASEAN Sports Ministerial Meeting (ASMM).

Andi added the forum also agreed to appoint him as chairman of the newly established board with Lao's Sports Minister Phankam Viphavanh as vice chairman.

The minister said an Expert Group Meeting (EMG) to set up a working plan for the new board had also been established.

He said during Wednesday's meeting ASEAN's sports ministers also affirm their commitments to develop the region's sports sector such as improvement of  infrastructure, welfare of athletes, capacity of athletes and sports officials such as coaches and referees, job opportunities in the fields of sports and involvement of business sector in sport's events.

The 2011 AMMS is participated in by deputy ministers and sports ministers from 10 ASEAN member countries.*