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.