Inaugural Asian Youth Games shrugs off H1N1 fear

Agnes Winarti ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 06/29/2009 7:18 PM  |  Sports

The inaugural Asian Youth Games opened Monday in Singapore, amid heightened concern about the spread of the H1N1 strain of flu in the city-state.

Less than a week before the event kicked off, four soccer players from Hong Kong and one from the Philippines tested positive for the virus. Another 20 athletes from the Philippines and 17 from Hong Kong were also quarantined before they tested negative.

Since their arrival Sunday, the Indonesia team, comprising 45 athletes and 30 officials, has passed a strict health observation in the host country, where 103 cases of the H1N1 strain of influenza A have been confirmed since the first case was reported last month.

“We hope the athletes are all well throughout the games. We will constantly keep an eye on their food, rest and exercise,” the Indonesian team’s chief of mission, Toho Cholik Muthohir, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

“The health monitoring here is strictly performed to prevent the spread of the flu.”

The games will run until July 7, and will feature 1,300 athletes aged between 14 and 17 from 44 countries across the continent.
 
The Asian Youth Games official committee is conducting extra observations on the physical condition of participants and officials by checking their temperature twice a day – in the morning (6 to 10 a.m.) and evening (5 to 9 p.m.). According to the event's official website, www.ayg2009.sg, spectators will also have their body temperature checked before entering the venue, the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Those found with fever or body temperature above 37 degree Celsius will be quarantined and examined further.

“Thankfully, no one in our contingent has failed the examination,” said Toho.

Indonesia will be competing in eight of the 10 medal events – swimming, diving, athletics, shooting, bowling, beach volleyball, three-on-three basketball and sailing. Indonesia will not take part in soccer or table tennis.
 
“We haven’t set any targets because this is the inaugural event. Hopefully the kids can perform their best,” said Toho.

Indonesian National Sports Council (KONI) chairwoman Rita Subowo said the country’s participation in the Asian Youth Games would be part of its preparation for the Olympic Youth Games in 2010, also to be hosted by Singapore.
 
On Tuesday, Indonesia will start its medal hunt in athletics and diving.
 
Indonesian athletics coach Subagio, however, hopes his squad finishes in the top eight, pointing out the strong opposition from China, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore.

“We only finished selecting athletes in early June, so we can’t set the bar too high,” said Subagio.
 
The country’s athletics squad, comprising five male and five female athletes, will take part in the 100 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters and the 4x200-meter relay, as well as the high jump and triple jump.

In diving, Indonesia will compete in the men’s and women’s 3-meter springboard, as well as the 10-meter platform.

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