Athletes to attend Sukarno's centennial

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games team members are expected to attend the centennial celebration of former president Sukarno at the Bung Karno Stadium, which was named after the founding father, in Senayan on June 6.

"We'll ask the National Sports Council to invite the athletes to the ceremony in order to motivate the nation, foster national unity and pray for our athletes in the Games," said Endro Sumardjo, chief of the organizing committee for the ceremony, on Friday.

Endro was quoted by Antara as saying that 50 athletes would be present at the ceremony, which would also be attended by President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Sukarno's eldest daughter.

During the ceremony, the heads of state will sign on the stone inscription on the stadium's change of name from Senayan Sports Complex to Bung Karno Sports Complex. (ivy)