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)