ABG torch welcomed with carnival in Bali

Dicky Christanto ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Badung   |  Mon, 10/13/2008 11:41 AM  |  Sports

After being lit at the Mrapen natural-gas well in Grobogan, Central Java, on Oct. 8 and later being greeted by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace in Jakarta on Oct. 10, the Asian Beach Games (ABG) torch arrived in Bali on Sunday.

The torch was officially received by Alit Putera, head of the National Sports Council's Bali office, in a modest ceremony at Ngurah Rai International Airport. Putera then handed the torch over to a team of students from Kuta State High School.

The team, led by Ni Putu Emi Suprianti, carried the torch from the airport to the famous Kuta beach, where a crowd was waiting.

Before the torch's arrival, as many as 18 ogoh-ogoh (giant figures made of paper and used in traditional rituals) were paraded by more than 300 dancers from Karangasem regency in a carnival at the beach.

"The ogoh-ogoh carnival is meant to welcome the torchbearers," said Putri, a member of the welcoming ceremony committee.

"According to local tradition, ogoh-ogoh can protect us from evil spirits."

The figures were modeled on the ABG mascot, the Bali starling, an endangered species of birds indigenous to the island.

The carnival was accompanied by several Bleganjur traditional music groups, adding to the festive atmosphere of the welcoming event.

After arriving at the location, the torchbearers handed the torch over to a new team standing by for the past half hour.

The new team was tasked with taking the torch to another location selected by the committee.

"We will bring the torch to nine regencies throughout Bali before we use it at the opening of the games on Oct. 18," said National Sports Council chairwoman Rita Subowo.

Rita, who also chairs the Bali Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (BABGOC), acknowledged it had been difficult initially to prepare the welcome ceremony, because the committee was short of funds.

However, she went on, the committee was able to continue with preparations for the ceremony after state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina signed on as a sponsor.

"We consider ourselves lucky because the whole welcome ceremony is sponsored by Pertamina," Rita said.

Previously, speculation was rife that BABGOC needed more than Rp 100 billion (US$10.50 million) to finance the games. The problem was resolved after the government stepped in to provide the funds needed by the committee to organize the biggest ever sporting event held in the country over the last few decades.

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