Jakarta prepares for Games closing ceremony
JAKARTA (JP): The 14th National Games will enter its penultimate day today as host Jakarta dresses up for the closing ceremony, which looks certain to serve as its formal induction as overall winner.
Jakarta, which prepared its athletes abroad as if it was dealing with international duties, has what it takes after having risen in the medal standings far beyond the reach of its contenders.
With two days remaining, Jakarta perched on top with 118 gold, 72 silver and 70 silver medals. The clamorous roar of joy will also sweep West Java on the eve of the closing ceremony, provided that it manages to maintain its lead against East Java for the second spot in the medal tally.
West Java kept East Java's coup efforts at bay yesterday, collecting 65 golds, 74 silvers and 78 bronzes to go four golds clear of the East Javanese.
Today, a total of 27 gold medals are at stake in 11 sports, in which representatives of the country's most populous provinces lock their horns.
The sports with the most golds are badminton and the kempo martial art, which offer five golds each, and South Korean martial art tae kwon do, which provides four.
A soccer final pitting Irian Jaya against East Java, the only medal match tomorrow, will precede the closing ceremony. Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas is scheduled to officially close the Games.
Chairman of Jakarta's sports body, Kusnan Ismukanto, however, took his team's successful title defense attempt more cautiously.
"Despite this great outcome, I can't say whether we deserve the term 'successful' when it comes to judging our athletes' performances," Kusnan said.
Jakarta sprinted to its lead since the onset of the 12-day event, while other provinces were settling on their starting blocs.
Arie Sudewo, vice chairman of the National Sports Council, took Jakarta's eighth consecutive Games win for granted. "As a matter of fact, sports facilities in provinces outside Jakarta are inadequate in general," he told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
"It is quite reasonable if athletes from other provinces are less able to compete with their Jakarta opponents.
"The availability of modern sports facilities is very important, if not determinant, to enhance athletes' performances," he said.
Arie also attributed Jakarta's unchallenged run to the annual exodus of top athletes from other provinces here.
"It is normal for top athletes to seek a better place where they can earn more and have better futures," he said.
Other than Jakarta, only two teams have tasted the wine of glory. Surakarta won the inaugural Games in 1948 at home and West Java was triumphant three times in 1951, 1954 and 1961.
Organizers are looking for a settlement over the hockey row which prevailed in the Games in the past two days. The executive chairman of the organizing committee, Museno, admitted yesterday that administrative errors were blamed for the disqualification of Yogyakarta women's team and women's hockey as a medal event.
"There was a mistake, but let's find a solution with a cool head," Museno said.
Museno let the chief of the Indonesian Hockey Association seek a legal settlement at the Jakarta administrative court, but called for thorough deliberations between them. (arf/amd)
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