'Govt should provide sports centers'

'Govt should provide sports centers'

Jakartans have the Bung Karno sports complex in Central Jakarta
and a few other, smaller sports facilities. However, not all the
facilities are well maintained or frequently used. The Jakarta
Post asked some people where they go to exercise.

Wirati Surya, 23, is a journalist for a law and business
magazine. She lives with her family in Kampung Rambutan, East
Jakarta:

I usually jog and do some light exercises on Sundays at the
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) complex, since it's the closest
place to my house where I can have a workout.

Many other people also exercise there, because the place is
really nice -- it has a track encircling the complex where people
can jog or walk, and also the tree-shaded, grass lawns where they
can do simple workouts or play a game of soccer and relax.

And for an additional fee of Rp 2,000 (22 U.S. cents), you can
even enter the inside of the complex and join other people in an
aerobics workout led by an instructor.

Besides Taman Mini, I think there are still many other places
where we can exercise in the capital, like the Senayan sports
complex, of course, and the sports complexes on Jl. Otista, East
Jakarta, Kuningan and Bulungan in South Jakarta.

Of course we have to pay a fee as well as take turns in using
the sports facilities provided there, but I think the fees are
still reasonable.

Reza Theodorus, 34, is a driver for a family living in
Pancoran, South Jakarta. He lives with wife and two daughters in
Bekasi:

I don't do sports, because I'm not good at any. Well, I do
some jogging around my housing complex sometimes in the morning,
but it has not really become a habit.

My wife does all the house chores, that is a good workout for
her as she always says. She once told me that there is a new
fitness center near our house, where other housewives have become
members. But the fee is too expensive for us.

As for my children, well, since they're still under five, they
don't need a spacious playground. They can play inside or around
the house with the neighbors.

But I think it would be good if the government provided, or
required all housing developers to provide a public sports hall
or sports facilities for the residents to share. Just a badminton
court would be enough. I believe that sports can be and should be
an affordable, healthy way of recreation after stressful days at
work, don't you think?

--The Jakarta Post