Marathon likely to mark SEA Games closing ceremony

JAKARTA (JP): The 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games organizing committee wants to replace the soccer final with the marathon at the games' closing ceremony for security reasons.

"It's too risky to stage the soccer final before the closing ceremony. As we know, our soccer supporters are too fanatical with their team and they dare to take risks. If they vandalize things, how could we face our guests?" the organizers' competition affairs deputy, Muhammad Hindarto, said yesterday.

"The National Sports Council chairman (Wismoyo Arismunandar) asked us to stage the marathon. But it has to take place in the morning," he said.

Hindarto said Indonesian soccer fans had not shown a good attitude during the Kansas Indonesian League.

"They still cause problems if their team loses. Although there are many soldiers and police, there are more supporters," he said.

"It's an indication that Indonesian soccer fans are still rough and abusive," he said.

Indonesia's team failed to reach the 1995 games semifinals in Chiang Mai, Thailand, while the host won the men's and women's soccer medals.

"If we want to stage the soccer match, we have to know whether Indonesia has reached the final. If it fails, it will be OK. But if it reaches the finals and loses, that will mean trouble," former Jakarta Police Chief Major General (ret) Hindarto said.

A decision will be made in June at the Executive Council Meeting.

"This is just a possibility. Maybe we'll imitate the Olympic Games' closing ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. They didn't have a match before it," Hindarto said.

Doping

The organizers have appointed doctor Dangsina Moeloek to be in charge of the doping commission.

"We want someone professional. Doctor Dangsina is a member of the Asian Olympic Committee and she has experience in many sports events," Hindarto said.

The dope tests will be done at the laboratory in Rawa Kerbau, East Jakarta.

"We had a problem with the laboratory's accreditation but there was a letter from Australia stating that the laboratory has a temporary accreditation," Hindarto said.

"It means we can tests the samples here but under the Australian laboratory's supervision," he said.

The tests in Australia would cost US$180 a sample while in China $150. Here, a sample costs only Rp 150,000 (US$62.5).

The laboratory operators are the latest grade students from the University of Indonesia's school of medicine.

Venues

Hindarto expected all venues, new or renovated, to be completed by the end of July, including the turf hockey field.

Some sports have to move their matches because of limited time to use the venue.

Billiards and snooker, which were scheduled to take place at the Kemayoran Fair Ground in Central Jakarta, are being moved to the Garuda Building on Jl. RS Fatmawati, South Jakarta.

Tae Kwon Do will still use the Bulungan Sports Hall in South Jakarta and Karate, which was scheduled to use the Bulungan hall, will be in the Senayan volleyball hall.

The Jatiluhur reservoir is the only water venue and the farthest from Jakarta. All rowers, canoers and traditional boat racers will stay at the Radison hotel in Cikampek.

Hindarto said the organizers would hire students from Guna Dharma computer college to operate the on-line system daily results program.

Participants

Hindarto said 7,499 athletes and officials from 10 countries would participate in the biennial games' 34 events.

Indonesia has the biggest team with 1,374 athletes and officials, Thailand is second with 1,253 and the Philippines third with 1,120.

Singapore is sending 931 representatives, Malaysia 903, Myanmar 600, Vietnam 561, Brunei Darusalam 433, Laos 182 and Cambodia 142.

The list is still subject to change before entry by name, which takes place three weeks before the game start. (yan)