Host Indonesia sets date for 19th SEA Games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is scheduled to host to the 19th
\nSoutheast Asian Games from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19 next year.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the 19th SEA Games board of patrons, Azwar Anas,
\nsaid the date was set after he met with President Soeharto
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The President suggested that the Games be held sometime after
\nOct. 5 so that there will be enough time between the Games and
\nthe 1997 general election in May,\" said Azwar, who is also
\nCoordinating Minister for People's Welfare.<\/p>\n
Azwar said an official announcement of the decision will be
\nmade when National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar
\nmeets his counterparts from the nine other Southeast Asian
\ncountries. The date and venue of the meeting have not been set.<\/p>\n
Ten Southeast Asian countries -- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,
\nLaos, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand,
\nVietnam and host Indonesia -- are expected to take part in the
\nbiennial sporting meet.<\/p>\n
Azwar said that Indonesia, learning from the just-concluded
\nNational Games, is likely to participate in 34 sports and field
\nan estimated 4,300 athletes. More than 1,700 officials are
\nexpected at the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
The SEA Games committee has set a budget target of Rp 70
\nbillion (US$30 million). The budget is to be covered by an
\nunderwriting consortium led by President Soeharto's son Bambang
\nTrihatmodjo. Half of the budget will be used to help the national
\nteam prepare for the Games.<\/p>\n
Village<\/p>\n
The consortium has been advised to build a new athletes'
\nvillage on the old site of the Senayan shooting range. But Azwar
\nsaid that the plan still needs to be discussed with Jakarta
\nGovernor Surjadi Soedirdja and Minister\/State Secretary
\nMoerdiono, who is chairman of the Senayan Management Board.<\/p>\n
The new village -- in the form of a hotel -- would only
\nprovide lodging for athletes. Officials, including judges,
\nreferees and umpires, would stay at the nearby Atlet Century Park
\nhotel, which has long been used to accommodate both athletes and
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
The consortium has promised to complete construction of the
\nvillage within 10 months of the starting date.<\/p>\n
Another option is to build the village in Cileungsi, a growing
\nsuburb south of here. Cileungsi, however, is more than 25
\nkilometers from the Senayan sports complex and Jakarta's stubborn
\ntraffic jams could cause athletes to arrive late for competition.<\/p>\n
Azwar said the consortium has sent a team to Chiang Mai,
\nThailand, to learn how the city staged the 18th SEA Games in
\nDecember last year.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has high hopes of regaining its dominance in the
\nregional sporting meet, especially since its 1995 humiliation by
\nThailand. \"But we also aim to become a successful host of the
\nGames,\" said Azwar.<\/p>\n
The 1997 SEA Games are expected to serve as gauge of the
\nability of Southeast Asian countries prior to the Asian Games in
\nBangkok the following year. (arf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/host-indonesia-sets-date-for-19th-sea-games-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}