"There used to be hundreds of bicycles in Jakabaring complex, many have been stolen by due to lack of security," said the South Sumatra Province`s asset officer, Rusli Nawi, here Saturday.
The organizers have prepared 300 bicycles for the athletes and their officials to travel around the Jakabaring Sport city, Rusli said.
"Consequently we have to store the lost bikes in a garage to prevent more losses, only a number is left in the venue," Rusli said.
Rusli said that these bicycles might be lost two days before the SEA Games opening ceremony on Friday (Nov 11), where security was lacking.
The possibility is that some visitors might have stolen the bikes from the venues unguarded rear entrance.
"There were thousands of visitors and a only a small number of security personnel, some of the visitors also brought almost the similar types of bicycles," he said.
A search for the lost bikes were also conducted around the Jakabaring Sport city and found several bikes hidden in bushes.
"Maybe the thieves wanted to take the bikes in the night where nobody is around," he said.
Hundreds of bicycles were neatly parked at the athlete`s housing complex, but only tens of them remained.
Some 8-10 bikes are now parked near police guarding posts at Jakabaring, and they are only the officials and athletes.
South Sumatra`s Indonesian SEA Games Organizing Committee (InaSOC) Chairman, Muddai Madang cannot justify the lost of the hundreds of bikes.
"It is true that there are many of the bikes were missing, but, it`s now anticipated by strict guards in every passage ways. It is rather difficult due to limited personnel, while the visitors are thousands," he said. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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