Games torch arrives in Palembang

Muhammad Uzair, The Jakarta Post, Palembang

The National Games flame arrived here on Wednesday at 10 a.m. to a welcome reception comprising thousands of enthusiastic sports fans, who lined the streets inside the town.

After covering 997 kilometers through 13 regencies, the flame, which was lit last month during a lighting ceremony at Mount Dempo in Pagaralam, arrived at the Kertapati District before it was handed over to 16-year-old student Ahmad Daniel who became the first bearer in the final stage of the parade.

As the torch was carried through the main roads of the town, thousands of school students of all ages cheered and cheerfully waved red-and-white flags.

At midday, Palembang Mayor Eddy Santana Putra led a group of administration officials with the torch along Jl. Jendral Sudirman before it was hosted at the mayoralty office.

The torch will stay at the office before it is transferred to Sriwijaya Sports Hall during the Games opening ceremony on Thursday by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, where it will light the Games' cauldron.

South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Oesman lit the torch's flame at Mount Dempo on Aug. 21. The flame, on the end of a two-meter pole, was lit with a small magnifying glass that concentrated the sun's rays.