14,000 taking to the streets in friendship run

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

More than 14,000 people will put on their running shoes early Sunday morning for the Jakarta 10K "run for friendship", a highlight of the 476th anniversary celebrations of the capital.

The race, which starts at 6:30 a.m. from City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta, passes through Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman before returning to City Hall. The area will be closed to traffic for the duration of the race, which is expected to last for an hour.

Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) chairman Agum Gumelar, who is also minister of transportation, and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso are scheduled to open the race and to present awards to the winners at City Hall later on Sunday.

The first place winner will receive prize money of Rp 5 million (US$602), while the second and third place finishers receive Rp 3 million and Rp 2.5 million respectively.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri was scheduled to attend the race, but had to travel to Surabaya instead, said event spokeswoman Sri Purwosanti.

The runners will be divided into four groups: students, members of the public, invited runners and national athletes.

Mexican ambassador Pedro Gonzales Rubio is among those registered for the race, as well as representatives and citizens of China, Japan, South Korea and Germany, according to Sri.

If slightly more aggressive activities are to your liking, the Natinal Paintball Championship will be held at the Splash field off Jl. Kemang Raya, near Champions Restaurant. About eight teams are expected to compete. The games begin at 10 a.m. and will last throughout the day.