SBY to join Borobudur Interhash 2012

YOGYAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to join the three-day Borobudur International Hash (Interhash) 2012 starting Friday.

The non-competitive running and social event will encompass routes in Yogyakarta and the neighboring Central Java town of Magelang.

“The President is to join the hash in Tuk Songo, Magelang, on Saturday,” chairman of the Interhash organizing committee, Liem Chie, told The Jakarta Post, on Wednesday.

SBY, according to Liem, will join the 4.25 kilometer VIP route with First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo, Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng and Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.

As of Wednesday, Liem said, some 4,700 participants from 50 countries had registered for the biennial event, the third to be hosted by Indonesia.

The participants are made up of 1,700 Indonesians and 3,000 foreigners. Of the foreign participants, Malaysia is ranked top with 1,300 participants.

A number of routes are offered at the Interhash 2012. They include a short route (4-6 kilometers), a medium route (6-8 kilometers), a long route (8-12 kilometers), a super long route (12-30 kilometers) and a VIP route (4.25 kilometers).

It also offers the so-called red run, during which participants are required to wear red costumes with a participation fee of US$30, part of which will be donated to organizations taking care of disabled people, according to Liem.

“We have arranged 15 interesting run sites, two of which are in Yogyakarta,” Liem said, mentioning Kaliurang in Sleman and Menoreh mountain range in Kulonprogo as the Yogyakarta run sites.