National Games flame arrives in Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Games flame was carried into
\nJakarta yesterday after being handed over earlier in front of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia in Depok, West Java.<\/p>\n
The flame, which is taken from a natural gas source in Mrapen,
\nGrobogan, Central Java, was handed over by West Java Deputy
\nGovernor HMA Sampurna to Jakarta's Deputy Governor for People's
\nWelfare RS Museno in Depok. It reached South Jakarta at 10:45
\na.m.<\/p>\n
Thousands of uniformed students queued along the route to see
\nthe flame, waving small red-and-white flags and yelling \"Api
\nPON... api PON\".<\/p>\n
The flame began its journey on Aug. 23 in Central Java. It
\nthen made its way to Semarang, Surabaya and then back to
\nYogyakarta. From there the flame went to West Java before
\nentering the capital, which will host the 14th National Games for
\nthe eighth consecutive time.<\/p>\n
The Games, beginning today until Sept. 20, will be opened by
\nPresident Soeharto this afternoon at Senayan Stadium. The
\ncountry's 27 provinces will take part in the quadrennial event,
\nwhich this year is offering 509 gold, 509 silver and 599 bronze
\nmedals. A total of 4,915 athletes will take part in the Rp 28.5
\nbillion (US$12 million) Games.<\/p>\n
From South Jakarta, the flame was carried by a group of
\nrunners to Kalibata Mall, where it was handed over to another
\ngroup of runners who carried it to the East Jakarta mayoralty.<\/p>\n
Games mascot<\/p>\n
Eight red-and-white flags, eight National Games flags and
\neight flags featuring the Games Mat Bondol mascot were carried on
\nthree trucks during the parade around the capital.<\/p>\n
The flame was given to another group on Jl. Yos Sudarso, the
\nborder between East and North Jakarta. From Ancol, the flame
\nheaded to the Fatahilah Museum on the border of North and Central
\nJakarta to be brought to City Hall.<\/p>\n
Upon arriving at Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, government
\ndignitaries including Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad,
\nMinister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro joined the
\ngroup of runners.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan and Minister of
\nTransmigration Siswono Yudhohusodo joined the group as they
\napproached City Hall.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman was
\nthe last minister to join before all the runners were received by
\nJakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, who is also the chairman of
\nthe organizing committee.<\/p>\n
The torch, which was kept at City Hall last night, will be
\ndelivered by the last group of runners to the Senayan sports
\ncomplex at 2:42 p.m. Veteran runners Purnomo and Emma Tahapary
\nwill be the final runners, ending the last 54.4-km leg.<\/p>\n
The runners will carry the torch together into the stadium
\nbefore lighting the arrow of archer Donald Pandiangan, who will
\nlight the cauldron this evening. (yan\/byi)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>\n
Athletic row -- Page 13<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/national-games-flame-arrives-in-jakarta-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }