Government to issue SEA Game stamps

JAKARTA (JP): The government will issue a series of postage stamps to promote the 19th SEA Games to be held here in October, Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave said yesterday.

"I will order the state-owned postal company PT Pos Indonesia to print the stamps and the first-day envelopes and postcards to commemorate the event. It's the nation's responsibility to support the SEA Games," Joop said at his office after meeting the chairman of the National Sports Council, Wismoyo Arismunandar.

Pos Indonesia is expected to provide special postal services during the event.

"I will also order PT Telkom to issue telephone cards with the SEA Games theme," he said.

He said that state firms and associations under his supervision would extend a wide range of support for the Games.

Wismoyo said the Games torch would be lit at Suroloyo, near the Borobudur temple in Central Java.

"We are happy that the event will also support the country's tourist industry as the Games torch relay will start from Borobudur temple, a world famous place," he said.

Teams from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar will compete at the Games. (icn)