Jakarta bids for Olympics 2008

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman will report to President Soeharto on Jakarta's bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

"Staging a huge event such as the Olympics will not be easy considering the economic situation in our country," Hayono said.

Antara reported other countries to put in a bid to host the Games in 2008 are Osaka, Istanbul, Pusan in South Korea and Moscow.

Hayono said: "Indonesia has to reconsider its bid to host the event in 2008. I think staging the Olympics in 2012 would be much better for us."

"It will be great if we can raise the funds to stage the event in 2008. But I will consult with President Soeharto first," he said.

If Indonesia wins a bid to host the 2006 Asian Games, the country will have a chance to prepare itself to host the 2012 Olympics.

"We can learn from South Korea," Hayono said.

He said he did not know if Indonesia had to submit a proposal to host the multisports event but he thought it was an initiative from Indonesia's International Olympic Committee member Muhammad (Bob) Hasan.

"I will try to get reports from Pak Bob Hasan on Jakarta's bid as an Olympic host," he said. (yan)