Games end in blazing glory and discord

Sat, 21 Sep 1996, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

JAKARTA (JP): "See you at the 15th National Games in 2000"
said the static fireworks at the 14th National Games closing
ceremony, which had the usual pageantry, laserworks and fireworks
yesterday.

The burning phrase rose out of the darkness, following the
slow death of the Games' flame in the blacked-out Senayan main
stadium.

A series of fireworks lit the moment. Then the lights were
switched on again. A group of dancers appeared on the stage
performing a medley of folk songs from the 27 provinces.

Laserworks projecting a beautiful blend of colors illuminated
the stadium. "They make me feel as if I were in a different
world," said a stunned spectator.

However, a different world -- that of hooliganism -- left a
sour taste in spectators' mouths after the soccer final between
Irian Jaya and East Java before the closing ceremony.

The leader of the Irian Jaya contingent, Yap Salossa, went so
wild after his soccer team lost 2-1 that referee I Made Sudra had
to be rescued by riot police. A fire was lit and a brawl
involving supporters of the two provinces erupted outside the
stadium. Riot police took action and everything was soon under
control.

The city's stars including telenovela starlet Novia
Kolopaking, Ernie Johan, Jim Pattikawa, Jaja Miharja delighted
the spectators with songs and dances. Then a lengthy fireworks
show marked the finale of the Games while the spectators slowly
left the stadium.

But the Games closed with a big question mark. Unlike the
conclusions of other games, like the Atlanta Olympics which
announced "See you in Sydney," the host of the next National
Games was not mentioned.

East Java governor Basofi Sudirman said that Surabaya, East
Java's capital city, was ready to host the next Games provided he
was formally notified soon to allow his administration ample time
to prepare.

National Sports Council's vice chairman Arie Sudewo, however,
said the council was unable to give Surabaya the go ahead. "We
need to consult this matter with the government first," Sudewo
told The Jakarta Post.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas said
that Surabaya's hosting of the next Games would depend on whether
the Games, costing billions of rupiah, would disturb East Java's
development programs.

Like in the last seven Games, host Jakarta won the overall
title, with 141 gold, 84 silver and 79 bronze medals. West Java
and East Java were second (71, 85, 91) and third (65, 83, 79)
respectively.

During the 12-day event, 156 meet records, 72 national
records, 13 Southeast Asian records, 30 Asian Games records and
12 junior world records were broken, said the organizers.

These results, however, were considered poor by international
and Asian standards. The Asian Games and junior world records
were all broken in power lifting, not an Olympic sport. In the
Games' mother event, the track and field, not a single national
record fell.

Perhaps that was why Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
Hayono Isman questioned whether sports such as chess and bridge,
which have their own world championships, and are uncontested at
the Olympic Games, should appear in the National Games.

"We must adhere to international conventions. We must be
selective," he said. (yan/arf)

Editorial -- Page 4