719 people to run in Bali Marathon

JAKARTA (JP): Some 719 people, consisting of 563 Indonesians and 156 Japanese, will run in the 13th Bali Marathon on Oct. 24 at Sanur beach in Denpasar.

Event organizer Arifin Hutabarat told Antara news agency on Friday that the number of participants had dropped from 1,350 last year.

He cited the poor economy and security concerns as the main causes for the decline. He said the Japanese might be uncertain about security in Indonesia, adding that 20 Japanese from Okaido recently withdrew from the event.

A number of athletes from the West Nusa Tenggara and East Java chapters of the Indonesian Amateur Athletic Association reportedly will take part in the event, which features five- kilometer and 21-km runs, which are titled the fun-run and half- marathon, respectively.

The 1998 Bali Marathon champions, M. Basri from West Nusa Tenggara and Sumiati from Banyuwangi, East Java, have confirmed their participation in this year's competition. (ivy)