Olympic team's departure delayed
Olympic team's departure delayed
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Olympic team was forced to delay
its departure for Atlanta by a day because its flight was
canceled yesterday.
Eight athletes and 10 officials were scheduled to fly to Los
Angeles on Garuda Indonesia Airways' flight GA 800 at 15.30
yesterday. They were to change planes in Los Angeles for a Delta
Airlines' flight to Atlanta.
Indonesia's Olympic mission chief, Subardi Suar, said the
delay was caused by operational problems in the team's airplane
which was due from Denpasar. The team is now scheduled to depart
at 9.00 a.m. today.
"We can understand Garuda's reasons for the delay, but it will
certainly play havoc on our programs. We lost a considerable part
of our acclimatization period," Subardi complained.
"We only hope there will be no trouble with the flight from
Los Angeles to Atlanta after rescheduling. Such delay should not
happen when we return home," he added.
Garuda told Subardi about the delay at 11.00 a.m. yesterday
when all the athletes and officials bound for Atlanta, in their
red uniforms, were already at the National Sports Council's
headquarters.
The council's chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, was about to
start the ceremony to send off his squad.
Athletes booked on the flight were three female archers, two
table tennis players, a weight lifter, a wind surfer and a male
marathon runner.
Five Indonesian boxers and two beach volleyball players will
join their team in Atlanta after completing their overseas
training programs in Cuba and France respectively. Indonesia's
only Olympic swimmer, Richard Sam Bera, will leave for Atlanta
from his training venue in Tempe, Arizona.
Two female tennis players and the 20 member badminton squad
will be the last to depart. The tennis players are scheduled to
fly to Atlanta next Monday, the day after playing their Fed Cup
matches against Switzerland at Senayan. The shuttlers will embark
next Wednesday.
Indonesia is sending 39 athletes to compete in 10 sports at
the Olympic Games which will run from July 19 to Aug. 4.
Indonesia hopes to win two gold medals in Badminton, repeating
its 1992 performance. Indonesia sent 50 athletes in 11 sports to
the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
This Centennial Olympic games team will cost Indonesia Rp 5.2
billion (US$2.26 million). Most of the funds were provided by
national and multinational companies.
Indonesia's marathon runner, Ethel Hudson, will be among the
torch bearers at the opening ceremony in Atlanta. He will carry
the torch two kilometers outside the Olympic Stadium. (yan/amd)