19th SEA Games close in spectacular fashion
JAKARTA (JP): A marvelous fireworks display capped off a festive closing ceremony to the 19th SEA Games yesterday, as athletes renewed the spirit of sportsmanship in a week marred by judging controversies and crowd problems.
Senayan Stadium, although only a third full, was abuzz with a joyful atmosphere, a sharp contrast to the previous night when hooligans went on a rampage during the men's soccer final.
The head of yesterday's ceremony, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas, expressed regret after the closing at Saturday's violence.
"It's unfortunate there was an incident such as last night," he sighed to reporters.
The evening began with performances by the Gita Nusantara Choir, the Armed Forces Music Corps and other marching bands.
Then came a series of colossal ethnic dances, Rampak Gendang and Pelangi Jawa Timur, involving nearly 1,000 students.
Athletes and officials, grouped alphabetically according to the 34 events they participated in, then entered. Only about 50 percent of the athletes showed up as attendance was not compulsory.
In his report, the president of the Games' organizing committee, Wismoyo Arismunandar, said it had been a quality event with 79 SEA Games records broken, three junior world records and one world record.
The Games will be remembered as the biggest sporting event ever held in the region. It featured 4,500 athletes who went home with 448 gold medals at stake in a record 34 sports.
Host Indonesia stood proudly atop the standings with a record haul of 194 golds, 101 silvers and 115 bronzes, or 44 percent of the total number of gold medals on offer.
It won at least one bronze in every sport and produced a perfect sweep in canoeing, winning all 12 golds offered.
Defending overall champion Thailand deserves a thumbs-ups for maintaining its supremacy in swimming pool. It splashed its way to 17 of the 39 golds at stake.
Indonesian male gymnast Jonathan Sianturi topped the list of individual gold winners with six, followed by compatriot female cyclist Nurhayati Thailand and Thai female swimmer Ravee Intporn- Udom, who both bagged five.
One world record was broken. Thai female lifter Kassaraporn Suta snatched 125 kgs in the 59kg division to beat the old mark by half a kilogram.
Indonesian lifter Sri Indriyani almost equaled this superb feat with three junior world records in the 46kg category.
Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Hayono Isman said Indriyani would be rewarded with two houses.
"We are proud to become the first SEA Games host ever to grant houses to record breakers, although bonuses will not go to non- Indonesian athletes this time," he said.
Gelora Senayan Management Board director Yasidi Hambali said last night he was counting the cost of Saturday's violence.
"We will repair all the broken facilities, including street lamps, ornamental flower pots, windows and wooden seats soon," he said, adding that he would discuss the damages with the Games consortium.
"I just want to call on supporters to look after our own national assets. Let's control our emotions and not destroy our belongings," he said.
As Azwar formally closed the games, 5,000 yellow, black and white ballons were released from the giant soccer ball, representing the colors of Brunei, host of the XX SEA Games in 1999.
After the Games' fire flickered and died, the Games flag was lowered and taken by Nurfitriana, Indonesia's Olympic archery silver medalist at the 1988 Olympic Games, to Wismoyo who then presented it to the head of the Brunei Olympic Games Committee, Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah.
The festive atmosphere stepped up a gear as the fireworks display burst into life and the singers took over the stage. (team)