Games end in blazing glory and discord

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

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