'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