Ngurah Rai Airport General Manager Ahmad Syaugi Shahab stated on Sunday that the events aimed to celebrate independence and spread the spirit of nationalism to passengers.
“This is to celebrate independence and foster enthusiasm among all Indonesians. Seeing foreign nationals participate was incredibly heartening; they even laughed and enjoyed themselves,” Shahab said.
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Competitions for both children and adults included marble races, flag-moving contests, and ball-carrying games. The celebrations also featured performances of the Cendrawasih Dance and Kecak Dance, a best costume contest, and souvenir distribution.
Airport management decorated both domestic and international terminals to convey the spirit of independence well in advance of the events.
“We want the momentum of the 80th anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia to be felt by everyone at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport,” Shahab said.
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“We also hope the spirit of independence, love, and pride for Indonesia will continue to grow in the hearts of the people, while introducing nationalism to foreign tourists,” he added.
Passengers also expressed their appreciation for the events. Hardi, traveling to Toraja, said the celebration was special because it showcased Indonesian enthusiasm in the presence of foreign nationals.
“Events like this are great for fostering our sense of nationalism as Indonesians. With so many foreign tourists around, it also showcases our patriotism to the world,” he said.
Nuraimah, a passenger from Makassar, added that the airport competitions allowed her child to participate despite being away from home.
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Translator: Ni Putu Putri Muliantari, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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