Yogyakarta hosts science Olympiad

Yogyakarta hosts science Olympiad

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Encourage your children to read more, including J.K. Rowling's
Harry Potter stories, to help them develop a healthy competitive
spirit and imagination, stated President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
on Monday during the opening of a student science competition.

President Susilo was the guest of honor during the kick-off of
the second International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) for
junior high school students, which will run until Dec. 13, in
Yogyakarta.

"Through healthy competitive spirit and imagination we can
ensure a democratic world," the President said in his speech in
front of the Olympiad's 329 participants from 36 countries,
including Indonesia.

He encouraged the development of imagination in daily
activities. "Many great minds are honed from their active
imagination; people like Albert Einstein, Michelangelo, Leonardo
da Vinci and Thomas Alva Edison," he said.

And Yogyakarta, he added, was selected to host the Olympiad
since it represents hospitality and the country's heritage.

"If you go to Magelang, you'll find the Borobudur Temple. The
temple is a great scientific creation of the past. I like its
history because it reminds us of past achievements that we should
look up to," he said.

Also during the event, the President was flanked by First Lady
Kristiani Herawati, Minister of National Education Bambang
Sudibyo, Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa, Minister of
Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi and
presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng.

Director of Junior High School Education at the National
Education Office, Hamid Muhammad, said earlier that apart from
the host country, 12 participating teams came from countries in
Europe, 16 from Asia, three from the Americas and four from
Africa.

He said the number of participating countries was down from
the earlier expectation but higher than the previous event where
teams from 29 countries participated.

"Previously, many countries had planned to send participants
to the Olympiad, but canceled participation following travel
warnings and the spread of bird flu here," explained Hamid.

Each participating country is entitled to send a team of eight
members, including two officials. And the host, Indonesia is
entitled to two teams. Out of the country's 12 participants, two
are from Yogyakarta.

Outside the venue, while the President was opening the
Olympiad, the police arrested five student protesters from the
National Student Front who were holding a protest demonstration
against the government's move to raise fuel prices. The protests
took place before and during the opening ceremony with dozens of
demonstrators that the police were able to disperse.