Clouds disrupt Games torch-lighting ceremony
Clouds disrupt Games torch-lighting ceremony
JAKARTA (JP): Men can only plan, God decides. And so it was
during the SEA Games torch lighting ceremony at the ASEAN
Secretariat on Jl. Sisingamangaraja, South Jakarta, yesterday.
The plan to use a magnifying glass to light the torch was
scrapped after the sun stayed hidden behind clouds during the
ceremony, although rays began peaking through after the
formalities.
Guests waited nearly 40 minutes for the main feature while the
Gita Nusantara Chorus performed.
The Api Hanoman dance, symbolizing the spirit of strength and
honesty in competition, created by Yogyakarta-based choreographer
Bagong Kussudiardja, was next on the agenda.
Bagong, who celebrated his 69th birthday yesterday, briefed
his dancers to perform the dance's alternate scenario, to
accommodate the change of plans, in the final minutes.
Then, the Games mascot Hanoman, the white-haired, half-monkey
knight, appeared with a torch in his right hand, flanked by 20
other dancers dressed in monkey costumes.
The torch, which was said to be lit during the general
rehearsal Wednesday, was handed over to Minister of Youth Affairs
and Sports Hayono Isman.
About 11.05 a.m., Hayono -- with the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-
General Immanuel Robert Inkirawang and 19 long-haired girls from
the Magelang regency, Central Java -- lit the mini cauldron.
Indonesia's former sports minister R. Maladi, accompanied by
the Games' organizing committee chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar,
ignited the Games torch from the mini cauldron and gave it to the
girls.
Representatives of 10 participating countries -- Brunei,
Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia -- then proceeded to sign the SEA
Games plaques.
Wismoyo then presented the torch to the organizers' deputy for
ceremonies Putera Astaman who later handed the torch to former
sprinter Purnomo Yudhi and 20 runners who relayed the torch to
the South Jakarta mayoralty.
Wismoyo said: "I think that's what God wants. The original
Ramayana epic doesn't recognize a magnifying glass. Hanoman must
light the torch."
"I was very nervous because the organizers hadn't anticipated
a change in ceremony," he said. "I felt a bit embarrassed in
front of the other NOC representatives."
Bagong, who created the dance in 10 days, said: "I noticed
that the organizers were very confused today and I just told my
dancers to perform and bring the torch."
Hayono said he was not let down by the change of plan.
"I'm not disappointed at all because every ceremony must
encounter some troubles. Luckily, the organizers were able to
keep the ceremony going."
The torch will be relayed from the South Jakarta mayoralty to
City Hall today, starting about 1.30 p.m. after Friday's mass
prayer.
Runners from participating countries will relay the torch
along Jl. Rasuna Said -- which will be closed temporary from 2.45
p.m. -- where the organizers have set up 10 huts representing the
countries.
Sixteen cabinet ministers and representatives of participating
countries' embassies are expected to relay the torch along Jl.
Medan Merdeka Selatan before it enters City Hall.
Tickets
More than 1,500 tickets for the soccer final have been booked,
a member of the organizers' secretariat staff, Tadjudin Tandjung,
said.
Members of the public still have time to change their SEA
Games stickers -- which can be obtained when paying telephone,
electricity and water bills -- with tickets for free-of-charge
matches.
Tadjudin said soccer, volleyball and badminton were the most
popular sports for spectators.
Based on the latest data on Oct. 8, tickets for soccer matches
on Oct. 5 and Oct. 7 were sold out.
More than 500 tickets for badminton's opening match in the
700-seat Senayan badminton hall have been prebooked.
Tadjudin said members of the public who do not have stickers
can still enter the venues if seats are available. (yan)