4,000 youths at sports meet

JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Mayor H. Suprawito opened a sports and art competition yesterday attended by about 4,000 youths.

Suprawito said at the opening ceremony that the annual event was aimed mainly at filling youths' spare time so as to prevent them from becoming involved in mindless activities, such as brawling.

The other objectives of the competition, which will end on Sept. 5, are to encourage youths to improve their sporting prowess, the head of the organizing committee, Syamsul Arfan, said.

"Sports activities in the competition include volleyball, basketball, table tennis, badminton and swimming," Arfan said.

The arts activities being contested are modern dance, Moslem attire, music, karaoke and a national youth culture competition.

He said the competition would close with a dance endurance contest. (hhr)