Jakarta prepares for Games closing ceremony

Thu, 19 Sep 1996, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

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)