Prisons sports event starts in Jakarta

Prisons sports event starts in Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Around 200 prison guards from six countries in the Southeast
Asian region are taking part in the three-day track-and-field
championship which kicked off here on Tuesday.

The 14th ASEAN track-and-field championship includes tug of
war with 41 gold, 41 silver and 41 bronze medals up for grabs.
Tennis and golf are also included but only as exhibition matches.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin
officially opened the tournament at the Madya Track-and-Field
Stadium.

Hosts Indonesia is fielding 46 athletes, Brunei Darussalam 45,
Singapore 36, Malaysia 32, Thailand 28 and Vietnam 2.

Other ASEAN members Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the
Philippines are not sending their representatives.

"This championship will have winners and losers, but beyond
that, its mission is to strengthen the friendship among ASEAN
countries," said Hamid.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials from the
Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) and the Office of
State Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs.

The first championship was held in 1980 in Singapore, which
also hosted the last championship in 2002. Thailand will host the
2006 championship.