Let`s form it in the not-too-distant future to produce sports professionals,"Palembang, S Sumatra, Nov 11 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered on Friday formation of a sports school at the newly-built Jakabaring sports complex in South Sumatra.
In his address inaugurating the sports complex, the President expressed hope the school would produce sports professionals, ranging from athletes, coaches to referees.
"Let`s form it in the not-too-distant future to produce sports professionals," he said.
The head of state said he had discussed the idea of forming such sports school with Education Minister M Nuh, Youths and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng and South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin.
He expressed hope the 325-hectare sports complex which was ready to host the 26th SEA Games on November 11-22 would also serve as an education and training facility to improve athletes` ability.
He further said the sports complex which was the largest in Southeast Asia was a luxury area equipped with facilities of international standard and was not inferior to those of other countries.
"I myself have often seen sports facilities in other countries. We can say many facilities at the Jakabaring sports complex are of international standard. These all indicate the seriousness of both the central and regional governments," he said.
The President is slated to officially open the 26th SEA Games at the Sriwijaya Sports Stadium on Friday night.
The 26th Sea Games will be held in Jakarta and Palembang on November 11 through 22.
A total of 542 gold medals will be contested in 44 sport games.
The 44 branches of sports to be competed in Jakarta and Palembang are aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, billiards & snooker, bowling, boxing, bridge, and canoeing.
The others are chess, cycling, equestrian, fencing, fin swimming, football, futsal, golf, gymnastics, judo, karate, paragliding, pencak silat, petanque, roller sports, rowing, sailing, sepaktakraw, shorinji kempo, shooting, softball, soft tennis, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, traditional boat race, volleyball, vovinam, wall climbing, water ski, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu. ***1***
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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