The 15th Asian Games torch
relay was held on Sunday around the Senayan Sports Complex, in central Jakarta,
capital of Indonesia, symbolizing the upcoming Asian sport event in Doha, Qatar,
this December.
At about 4:00 p.m. (local time), the relay started at the office of the State
Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs. Many citizens and sports fans saw the
ceremony on the street.
|
Indonesian badminton player Taufik
Hidayat runs with the torch during the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 Torch
Relay in Jakarta October 29, 2006. The relay is travelling 50,000km
(31,000 miles) to 15 countries and regions in 55 days before returning to
Doha for the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games.
[Reuters]
|
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was the
first torch bearer, starting an 9 kilometers journey. And then 69 other torch
bearers carried the flame one by one. The president of the Indonesian Olympic
Committee Agum Gumelar was the last torch bearer, lighting the Cauldron outside
the National stadium at approximately 5:30 p.m.
"I wish the 15th Asian Games in Qatar and the following games to be held in
Jakarta and other places in the future will be successful events," said the
Gumelar.
The torch, which is said to wind resistant at speeds of up to 60 kilometers
an hour, symbolizes the desire "to merge and light anew the spirit of
competition and friendship throughout Asia," organizers said.
Meanwhile, the torch was also displayed in a parade featuring Qatari and
local dancers, jointed by dozens of leading local figures and athletes.
The torch, which carried by the official ambassador of the Doha 2006 Torch
Relay , Qatari Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thanni in a lantern from the relay
plane, arrived in Jakarta on Saturday afternoon from Hong Kong.
Jakarta is its ninth stop on its maiden run from Qatar, which started on
October 8. It has traveled the furthest in its history this year--50,000
kilometers and through 15 countries across the region.
After Jakarta, the host of the 1962 Asian Games, the torch will fly to
Bangkok, Thailand, then the Iranian towns of Mashad, Esfahan and Tehran;
Salalah, Muscat, Sohar in Oman; Hatta, Sharjah,Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United
Arab Emirates; Kuwait City, Manama (Bahrain) and back to Doha for the kick-off
of the Games.
