Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu has expressed eagerness to organize an international windsurfing competition in the provincial city of Ambon.

"I am eager to organize an international windsurfing competition in Ambon in a bid to introduce the province worldwide," Ralahalu said at a function to open National Sail Indonesia Open at Natsepa Beach on Thursday.

The governor said the water in Ambon, especially in Baguala Bay, was very good for international water sports including windsurfing and diving.

Governor Ralahalu opened the National Sail Competition on Thursday at Natsepa Beach as part of international marine event of Sail Banda 2010.

He said the higher the frequency of water sport competitions in Ambon, the more the local younger generation will love such kind of sports.

"Ninety percent of Maluku Porvince is made up of sea, and therefore it should yield more capable water sport athletes who are able to make high achievement at regional, national, and even international levels," Governor Ralahalu said.

He said two times experience in successfully organizing two sail Indonesian open in 2006 and 2010 was enough to be a stepping stone to international wind surfing competition in the province in the years to come.

Therefore, Maluku provincial administration will make a coordination with the local branch of Indonesian Yachting Association (Porlasi) to discuss the plan to organize an international wind surfing competition.

"We are going to coordinate with the organization of international windsurfing competitions in Ambon," Ralahalu said.

Meanwhile, Porlasi chairman for tourism and sports affaiis Iwan Ngantung said he was ready to support the Maluku provincial administration in its effort to organize the international windsurfing competition.

"If the government of Maluku Province is eager to organize such event, Porlasi will help promote it abroad to the world`s noted windsurfers participating in the event," Iwan Ngantung said. (*)