Yogyakarta hosts science Olympiad<\/p>\n
Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Encourage your children to read more, including J.K. Rowling's
\nHarry Potter stories, to help them develop a healthy competitive
\nspirit and imagination, stated President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\non Monday during the opening of a student science competition.<\/p>\n
President Susilo was the guest of honor during the kick-off of
\nthe second International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) for
\njunior high school students, which will run until Dec. 13, in
\nYogyakarta.<\/p>\n
"Through healthy competitive spirit and imagination we can
\nensure a democratic world," the President said in his speech in
\nfront of the Olympiad's 329 participants from 36 countries,
\nincluding Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He encouraged the development of imagination in daily
\nactivities. "Many great minds are honed from their active
\nimagination; people like Albert Einstein, Michelangelo, Leonardo
\nda Vinci and Thomas Alva Edison," he said.<\/p>\n
And Yogyakarta, he added, was selected to host the Olympiad
\nsince it represents hospitality and the country's heritage.<\/p>\n
"If you go to Magelang, you'll find the Borobudur Temple. The
\ntemple is a great scientific creation of the past. I like its
\nhistory because it reminds us of past achievements that we should
\nlook up to," he said.<\/p>\n
Also during the event, the President was flanked by First Lady
\nKristiani Herawati, Minister of National Education Bambang
\nSudibyo, Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa, Minister of
\nHome Affairs M. Ma'ruf, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi and
\npresidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng.<\/p>\n
Director of Junior High School Education at the National
\nEducation Office, Hamid Muhammad, said earlier that apart from
\nthe host country, 12 participating teams came from countries in
\nEurope, 16 from Asia, three from the Americas and four from
\nAfrica.<\/p>\n
He said the number of participating countries was down from
\nthe earlier expectation but higher than the previous event where
\nteams from 29 countries participated.<\/p>\n
"Previously, many countries had planned to send participants
\nto the Olympiad, but canceled participation following travel
\nwarnings and the spread of bird flu here," explained Hamid.<\/p>\n
Each participating country is entitled to send a team of eight
\nmembers, including two officials. And the host, Indonesia is
\nentitled to two teams. Out of the country's 12 participants, two
\nare from Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Outside the venue, while the President was opening the
\nOlympiad, the police arrested five student protesters from the
\nNational Student Front who were holding a protest demonstration
\nagainst the government's move to raise fuel prices. The protests
\ntook place before and during the opening ceremony with dozens of
\ndemonstrators that the police were able to disperse.<\/p>",
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