Sydney-based Indonesians to support RI athletes

Sydney-based Indonesians to support RI athletes

JAKARTA (JP): The more than 28,000 Indonesians living in
Sydney are ready to throw their weight behind Indonesian hopefuls
at the Sydney Olympic Games.

"The residents, about 6,000 to 7,000 of which are students,
will give their support, especially to our shuttlers who are
expected to win gold medals," Sydney Indonesian consulate general
information officer Andre Marentek was quoted by Antara news
agency as saying on Monday.

"However, they can't all go to cheer the athletes directly at
the venues due to expensive and sold-out tickets."

Badminton tickets were sold at A$40 (US$22.36) for preliminary
rounds and up to A$75 for the finals.

Andre was interviewed after welcoming the last members of the
Indonesian Olympic team to leave for the Games. They arrived in
Sydney at 7:30 a.m. local time after an eight-hour flight.

The squad comprised 19 shuttlers, four swimmers, three divers,
two judokas, two tennis players, two table tennis players and a
taekwondoin. They were accompanied by 19 coaches and officials
and led by head of the Olympic organizing committee Arie Sudewo.

There was no official welcoming ceremony. Officials of the
Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (SOCOG) took
the athletes directly to the athletes' village in Homebush Bay.

"All Indonesian athletes from the earlier batches are in good
condition. There are no training problems. Everything is on
schedule," Andre said.

The first batch departed on Sept. 1; the second last Tuesday.

The Indonesian contingent consists of 47 athletes and 39
coaches and officials.

This year, Indonesia has set a target of two gold medals in
the men's singles and doubles badminton events. Indonesia won one
gold, one silver and two bronze medals in the 1996 Atlanta
Olympic Games. (nvn)