Thousands to join Jakarta 10K race

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

More than 14,000 runners are expected to take part in the Jakarta 10K "run for friendship" Race, to be held on Sunday morning to coincide with the city's 476th anniversary this month.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso are scheduled to present awards to the winners at City Hall later that day.

The race is open to the public with registration ending at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Registration spots include Plaza Indonesia, Cilandak Town Square Mall, Trisakti University and the University of Indonesia.

Registrants will be charged Rp 10,000 (US$1.20) and will receive a T-shirt, hat and race number.

"So far, we have accepted more than 13,000 runners, including top professional runners, national athletes, members of the Indonesian Army and police, public officials, students, general public and representatives from several embassies," said Rahmah, a spokeswoman for the event.

Ambassadors from the Philippines and Mexico, as well as representatives from the embassies of China, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy had pledged to take part.

A spokesperson from the Mexican Embassy told The Jakarta Post that Ambassador Pedro Gonzalez Rubio was delighted and ready to participate in the race to commemorate the city's anniversary, which actually falls on June 22.

The race will start at City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta at 6:30 a.m., and pass through Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman before finishing at City Hall.

The entire race is predicted to last an hour and the public are invited to watch.

The first place winner will receive prize money of Rp 5 million, while second and third place will receive Rp 3 million and Rp 2.5 million respectively.