Busan, Guangzhou absent in Medan

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Medan Sister Cities Busan, South Korea, and Guangzhou, China, were not among the participants in the A Mild International Sister Cities 2003 basketball tournament, which commenced here on Tuesday.

Head of the tournament's organizing committee, Landen Marbun, said the committee decided not to invite Busan and Guangzhou to the tournament due to fears of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

"We have discussed the decision with other related parties, including Medan mayor Abdillah, and both Busan and Guangzhou understood the reasons for our decision," Marbun said, adding that both cities had prepared to participate the tournament.

The tournament is held as part of the North Sumatran capital's cooperation with friendly cities, known as Sister Cities.

Currently, Medan has a Sister City cooperation with Busan in South Korea, Guangzhou in China and Penang in Malaysia.

Tournament participants include Angsapura Sania Medan, Aspac Texmaco, Satria Muda Aritama, Bima Sakti Nikko Steel, Medan Selection and Penang. -- JP