SEA Games torch not to be airlifted
SEA Games torch not to be airlifted
JAKARTA (JP): The 19th SEA Games torch will not be airlifted
as planned but will be relayed from Borobudur temple to Jakarta,
an official said Monday.
Torch relay organizer Johanes Karsan said the airlift plan was
canceled following a decree from the organizer Saturday.
"There were no funds to airlift the torch, so it was decided
to relay it from Borobudur to Jakarta," Johanes said as quoted by
Antara.
Johanes said airlifting the torch would have been expensive
and relaying it was more efficient and probably cheaper. "With an
airplane, we would have to pay to lease it although the
government would help bear the cost."
The SEA Games torch will be lit with the aid of a huge
magnifying glass at 10 a.m. on Sept. 26, at the ancient Buddhist
Borobudur temple, about 40 kilometers northwest of Yogyakarta.
National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar will
witness the lighting of the torch.
On Sept. 27, the torch relay will begin. It will be marched
through Yogyakarta, Central Java, East Java, West Java and
Jakarta.
The torch is expected to arrive at Pasar Jumat, Ciputat, on
Oct. 10 and the Bogor regent will hand it over to the South
Jakarta Mayor at 10 a.m.
The torch will then be paraded along Jl. Fatmawati, Jl.
Wijaya, Jl. Kapten Tendean, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Jl. HOS
Cokroaminoto, Jl. Sam Ratulangi, Jl. Menteng Raya and then to the
City Hall.
From 150 meters before City Hall, representatives of each
country's embassy, and public figures, including ministers, will
participate in the ceremony, passing the torch from hand to hand
until it reaches Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja.
On Oct. 11, it will be carried from City Hall along Jl. M.H.
Thamrin to Jl. Jend. Sudirman and from there to Senayan Main
Stadium.
The torch arrive at the stadium for 4 p.m. when President
Soeharto will to officially open the biennial event which will
end on Oct. 19.
Organizing Committee municipal deputy secretary Mawardi
recently said that Jakarta's administration had only a Rp 150
million budget for the torch ceremony.
"Jakarta's administration will have to work hard to raise
funds for the SEA Games torch relay in the capital. The
organizers promised to add Rp 25 million but this is still not
enough," Mawardi said.
Mawardi said the torch ceremony budget was to cover the cost
of erecting 10 stages to represent each participating SEA Games
country, along Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said. (lnt)