Arafura Games open in spectraculer style<\/p>\n
By Primastuti Handayani<\/p>\n
DARWIN, Australia (JP): As Nova Peris-Kneebone brought the
\ntorch to the cauldron, nearly 15,000 people in the Marrara
\nSporting Complex's football stadium rose and applauded last
\nnight's spectacular opening ceremony of the Arafura Games.<\/p>\n
About 5,000 athletes and officials from 29 countries, the
\nhighest number of participants in the biennial event's history,
\nmarched in the parade of contingents.<\/p>\n
\"We'll top the 5,000 mark, which is extremely pleasing news,\"
\nsaid games general manager Wally Mauger.<\/p>\n
\"But the Arafura Games is not a matter of numbers. This event
\nis more about sport and forging international and business
\nrelations.\"<\/p>\n
About 4,000 athletes and officials took part in the 1995
\ngames.<\/p>\n
Boxer Otong Kosasih, the 1997 Golden Glove champion, had the
\nhonor of carrying Indonesia's red-and-white flag before softball
\nathletes Radhiana Iskandar and Tony Pratono, wearing Balinese
\ncostume, and the 131-strong team.<\/p>\n
The unique dress of Radhiana and Tony drew attention and many
\nathletes from other countries asked for photographs together.<\/p>\n
Athletes from Japan, Tahiti, Fiji and Thailand also wore
\ntraditional costume.<\/p>\n
The entertaining ceremony started at 7:30 p.m. local time.
\nChildren dressed in yellow and black walked onto the field and
\nformed groups of five. They were followed by young girls wearing
\ntraditional costumes from several countries, including India,
\nThailand and Japan.<\/p>\n
As they all came close to the stage, fireworks lit up the
\nchilly night sky.<\/p>\n
The lights were suddenly turned off and a man wearing a black
\nsuit stood up in the middle of the stage and amused the audience
\nwith a spectacular laser display against the background of
\nfireworks.<\/p>\n
The official games mascot Rocky the Rock Wallaby then bounded
\nonto center stage and asked the spectators to make waving motions
\nthroughout the stadium.<\/p>\n
Brunei Darussalam led the alphabetical procession of teams and
\nwas followed by Cambodia.<\/p>\n
Huge applause greeted the host Northern Territory team, also
\nthe largest contingent, as it walked into the stadium.<\/p>\n
Peris-Kneebone, the first Territorian and Australian
\naboriginal Olympic gold medalist in hockey, carried the torch to
\nthe cauldron followed by the Darwin Running Club. They had taken
\na route from the Parliament House through Darwin city along Bagot
\nRoad to the venue.<\/p>\n
Choir<\/p>\n
Well-known singer Karen O'Shea sang Arafura, Arafura
\naccompanied by a children's choir before nearly 300 students put
\non a gymnastics display.<\/p>\n
Five parachuters from the army's Red Berets also took part in
\nthe ceremony. A helicopter flew low above the stadium, carrying
\nthe Northern Territory's flag of stars and a desert rose.<\/p>\n
Members of the marching band of the army and navy gave a
\nspecial touch to the ceremony.<\/p>\n
A drum performance, highlighting traditional percussion
\nplaying and dances, preceded the performance of international
\nguitarist Tommy Emanuel to close the ceremony.<\/p>\n
For the first time since the event was held in 1991, the
\nopening ceremony was televised around the world.<\/p>\n
Information on the games is also available through the
\nwebsite.<\/p>\n
\"Sporting neighbors\" is the motto of the games and it was
\ndemonstrated last night when participants left their contingents
\nto mingle and take photographs with representatives of other
\ncountries in the center of the stadium.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will compete today in badminton, track and field,
\nsepak takraw, softball and swimming.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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