Bali Games torch relay plans unveiled

Niken Prathivi , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 10/07/2008 10:05 AM | Sports

The organizers of the inaugural Asian Beach Games revealed Monday they would light the Games' torch at a geological site in Grobogan, Central Java then ferry the flame by motorcade to Jakarta and later to Bali.

"We will kindle the torch at Mrapen on Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m.," a marketing deputy for the event, Rahmat Gobel, told The Jakarta Post over the phone.

The village of Mrapen is known for its eternal flame: a natural phenomenon where ground emissions of natural gas stoke the flames. The site has long been used to light torches for national sporting events.

Rahmat said during the transporting, the flame, contained in a lantern decorated with Indonesian traditional motifs, would have its first stopover in Semarang before traveling to Jakarta the same day.

"The torch is expected to arrive here (in Jakarta) Thursday at 3 p.m."

Rahmat added President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to hand over the Games torch to Bali Games director Rita Subowo -- also chair of Indonesia's Olympic Committee -- on Friday before the torch gets relayed from Jakarta to Bali by motorcade.

The torch is slated to reach Bali on Saturday where it will be paraded through eight regencies and one municipality on the resort island. The torch itinerary is scheduled to end at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park on Oct. 18.

President Yudhoyono is expected to officiate the Games.

In another development, Djoko Pramono, who is in charge of sporting events, said the jetskiing event is still lacking participants.

"So far, we only have three participating countries: Indonesia, Lebanon and Thailand. We are expecting Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan to register for the event before the opening ceremony," Djoko said.

Asian Beach Games in Bali is Asia's first multiple sports event situated on beaches. It features 17 disciplines plus two exhibition sports. Some 5,000 athletes and officials from 45 Asian countries are expected to take part.

So far, 42 countries are reported to have confirmed their participation, leaving Bhutan, Iraq and Kyrgyzstan the only nations yet to join.

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