After being placed at Vice President Palace, SEA Games torch finally arrived at Jakarta City Hall on Jl Medan Merdeka Selatan at 3.45 pm on Friday (11/4). Furthermore, it will be placed at City Hall, and then will be paraded around five areas of Jakarta on Saturday (11/5) tomorrow. As planned before, after parading it, SEA Games torch will be brought to Palembang by using ship through Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta.
When arriving at Vice President Palace, SEA Games torch was received by Vice President Budiono who handed over by the world champion of badminton in 1983, Icuk Sugiarto. After that, the torch which taken from Merapen, Central Java then handed over to Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo at Jakarta’s City Hall nearby Vice President Palace.
Before arriving at City Hall, SEA Games torch had been paraded around Silang Monas towards Bus Shelter on Jl Medan Merdeka Utara, Bus Shelter on Jl Medan Merdeka Selatan, and IRTI Monas Field. Former Indonesian athletes, Joko Supriyanto and La Paene Masara seemed in the athlete group to bring SEA Games torch.
When arriving at City Hall, SEA Games torch was welcomed by traditional dances from various areas in Indonesia. “By saying bismillah I turn on this fire, and hope God gives blessing for all of us in order to success the event of SEA Games XXVI,” he expressed while turning on the fire to torch in Jakarta City Hall’s environment, Friday (11/4).
According to him, SEA Games torch is reflecting the spirit of togetherness among the ASEAN countries. This spirit must be maintained continuously in order to realize good cooperation. “Especially for Indonesia athletes who will compete in SEA Games, it is the best chance as a host to achieve high achievement, thus Indonesia able to be champion in 26th SEA Games,” he hoped.
Bowo urges all Jakarta residents to give support to Indonesia’s athletes who will compete in various venues by giving spirit in each venue. “Hopefully by Jakarta residents’ support and all the people of Indonesia, it can be able to improve athletes’ spirit to achieve achievement optimally,” he expressed.
As planned before, SEA Games torch will remain light up and will stay for one night at Jakarta City Hall. On Saturday tomorrow (11/5), it will be paraded around Jakarta city which starts from City Hall until North Jakarta Mayor’s office.
The routes of its parade, such as passing through South Jakarta City Area, East Jakarta, and North Jakarta with the first stop on Jl MH Thamrin - Jl Jenderal Sudirman - Senayan - Gelora Bung Karno - Jl Gatot Subroto - Jl M T Haryono - Jl Dewi Sartika - Jl DI Panjaitan - Jl Ahmad Yani – North Jakarta Mayor- Sunter Kelapagading.
