The Jakarta Regional Development Center (RDC) organized a five-day International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) level II course on education and certification course for track and field officials from Dec. 7 to Dec. 11 at the Madya Athletics Stadium in the Bung Karno Sports Complex, Central Jakarta.

Led by Maurice Nicholas and P. Solomon and lecturers, there were 25 participants from 19 countries and territories of Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and host Indonesia.

Experts have long called for standardization among track officials throughout Asia. “We aim to improve the quality of athletics officials so they are ready for the officiating tasks in Asian competitions,” RDC Jakarta director Ria Lumintuarso said as quoted by The Jakarta Post after the opening ceremony at the RDC headquarters in the stadium compound.

“The course is very essential given that the success of a competition depends largely on how the officials, like the jury and referees can handle matters properly,” he added.

Ria said qualified participants could pursue further certification by sitting in on a level III course to be able to officiate in an international-level competitions.

Meanwhile, P. Solomon pointed out the need for the participants to stick to the rule books when officiating a competition.

“We will make them aware that the rule is there,” he said. About match officiating in Asia, Solomon, a member of the IAAF Technical Committee, said: “The officiating standards in Asia have been good. However, re-generation needs to be pursued further. New qualified officials must be developed in order to be ready for the task left by the outgoing officials.”