In an effort to green the immediate surroundings of the Sriwijaya Jakabaring sports stadium in Palembang, South Sumatra, during the current dry season, the provincial government has dropped water bombs on the area.
South Sumatra governor Alex Noerdin said in Palembang on Sunday (Oct 2,2011) the water bombs were also dropped to clear the haze in the air over Palembang`s Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin-II airport.
The water bombing was badly needed to clear the haze which was caused by forest fires.
Governor Alex Noerdin expressed hope that the haze could be completely eliminated by the end of October, 2011 or prior to the SEA Games which will take place from November 11 through 22.
According to Sigit Wibowo, head of the provincial forest affairs office, the water bombing was also conducted on peatlands in Ogan Komering Ilir district.
The water bombing has reduced the number of hotspots from several hundred to 44, Sigit said.
In the meantime, hundreds of Army soldiers grouped in the Sriwijaya regional military command had planted trees around Jakabaring stadium in a bid to make the locations green.
The greening program was led by the Sriwijaya regional military commander, Maj.General S Widjonarko.
"This is one of the Army`s participations apart from securing the situation," the commander said, explaining that the greening program was aimed at supporting the implementation of the SEA Games.
Meanwhile, the Tirta Musi Palembang tap-water company confirmed to keep supplying clean water to the SEA Games venues and to a total of 35 thousand customers in Palembang city.
The Jakabaring stadium will be used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the major sports event, while most of the competitions will take place at other venues in Palembang and Jakarta.
Youth and Sports Minister Mallarangeng said in Jakarta on Tuesday (Sept 27), his office had been providing everything needed by the Indonesia Sea Games organizing committee (Inasoc).
In the meantime, South Sumatra provincial administration`s asset management official Rusli Nawi said in Palembang on Wednesday (Sept 28) that the renovation of the Jakabaring stadium had been completed.
"What should be done at present is to keep the building like keeping the grass on the football field to remain green and the surrounding areas should be clean and neat," Rusli Nawi said.
According to him, the stadium building contractor was now focusing on greening the area around the stadium after hundreds of trees planted earlier had died due to drought.
Rusli also said that the stadium must not be used until after the opening of the SEA Games on November 11.
He also pointed out that the local organizing committee was now also providing the gate made of iron in the form of a vessel with an inscription reading "Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium" before entering into the stadium.
The organizing committee said, a total of 542 gold medals will be contested in 44 sports games. In Palembang, the Sea Games will be held at the Jakabaring sports complex. Half of the 44 sports games will be held in the South Sumatra capital city of Palembang.
Indonesia has hosted the Sea Games several times, namely the 10th Sea Games in 1979, the 15th Sea Games in 1987 and the 19th Sea Games in 1997.
In addition, the 44 branches of sports which will be competed in Jakarta and Palembang on November 11-22, 2011 are 1.Aquatics, 2. Archery, 3. Athletics, 4. Badminton, 5. Baseball, 6. Basketball, 7. Billiards & Snooker, 8. Bowling, 9. Boxing, 10. Bridge, 11. Canoeing, 12. Chess, 13. Cycling, 14. Equestrian, 15. Fencing, 16. Fin Swimming, 17. Football, 18. Futsal, 19. Golf, 20. Gymnastics, 21. Judo, 22. Karate, 23. Paragliding, 24. Pencak Silat, 25. Petanque, 26. Roller Sports, 27. Rowing, 28. Sailing, 29. Sepaktakraw, 30. Shorinji Kempo, 31. Shooting, 32. Softball, 33. Soft Tennis, 34. Table Tennis, 35. Taekwondo, 36. Tennis, 37. Traditional Boat Race, 38. Volleyball, 39. Vovinam, 40. Wall Climbing ,41. Water Ski, 42. Weightlifting, 43. Wrestling, and 44. Wushu.
The Jakabaring stadium which was also used for the opening ceremony of the 16th National Sports Week (PON) in 2004, has been renovated starting three months ago.
The international-standard Jakabaring is one of the best stadiums in Indonesia, and has a capacity to accommodate between 36,000 and 40,000 spectators.
Apart from that, project manager of PT Prambanan Dwipaka, Tedjo Kuncoro which carried out the stadium renovation said that Jakabaring stadium will receive a certificate issued by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) as an international standard venue by the end of October 2011.
According to Kuncoro, several IAAF officials made a visit to Palembang recently to inspect its various facilities and compartments provided at the SEA Games venues.
The Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng said that the 26th SEA Games will be held in Palembang and Jakarta as scheduled starting November 11, 2011.
"Although some venues are still being finished. I am optimistic they will all be ready ahead of the SEA GAmes opening," he said after meeting with House Commission X here on Wednesday (Oct.5)
He said he had received reports that some of the venues were now still being finished but they would all be ready ahead of the event`s opening.
Asked about some quarters` worry about the readiness of the venues for the games, Andi said "The schedules for the games` opening and competitions remain as they are. There are no changes in the schedules for the events in Jakarta and Palembang." (*)
Reporter: By Bustanuddin
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
