"There was no preparation. I just realized that this torch is heavy too," Soemarno said, upon her arrival at the office of the Telkomsel Smart Office (TSO) in Cut Nyak Dien street, Lampung Provincial city of Bandar Lampung, after carrying the flame torch on Wednesday.
The minister joined to enliven the Torch Relay, which was held by PT Telekomunikasi Seluler Indonesia (Telkomsel) Tbk, as the official mobile partner of the 2018 Asian Games, prior to the arrival of the torch in Jakarta for the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games on Aug 18, 2018.
Through the torch relay, she asked all the state owned companies (SOEs) to actively promote and publicize the Asian Games in all cities across the country as a form of support for the successful implementation of the largest Asian sporting event.
"Through the spirit of the Torch Relay, we raise enthusiasm and support for the success of organizing the 2018 Asian Games. Through their works, the SOEs, as the development agents, not only make profits but also engage in activities that promote national development and sport affairs," she remarked.
Soemarno also appreciated the SOEs that had been involved in both promotional and sponsorship activities to make the 2018 Asian Games a success.
The 18th Asian Games will be held in Jakarta and South Sumatra Provincial city of Palembang.
The torch relay, starting from July 15 to August 18 this year, travels about 18 thousand kilometers from the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, New Delhi, India, to 18 provinces and 64 cities in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, the torch relay began in Yogyakarta on July 17 and will end in Jakarta on Aug 17, a day before the Asian Games 2018 would be officially opened by President Joko Widodo.
The torch`s route includes Solo, Central Java Province; Blitar, Malang, Probolinggo, and Banyuwangi in East Java; Gilimanuk, Kuta, and Denpasar in Bali Province; Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara; Raja Ampat and Sorong in West Papua; Makassar in South Sulawesi; Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan; Banda Aceh in Aceh Province; Lake Toba in North Sumatra; Pekanbaru in Riau; Bukit Tinggi in West Sumatra; Jambi, Palembang, Banyuasin, and Prabumulih in South Sumatra; Bandar Lampung in Lampung; Serang in Banten; and Purwakarta, Bandung, Garut, Cianjur, and Bogor in West Java.
Reporting by Mentari Dwi
Editing by Bustanuddin, Suharto
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
