"My comment on the SEA Games : our athletes` performance was extraordinary," he said.
Cikeas, West Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday expressed appreciation for Indonesian athletes who had performed remarkably in the 26th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

Speaking ahead of the SEA Games` official closing ceremony to be held on Tuesday evening in Palembang, South Sumatra, he said nobody could achieve excellence instantly.

"Our athletes` ability to collect more than one hundred gold medals did not just fall from the sky. They have worked hard for it, and even trained in Batujajar (the Army`s Special Force`s training camp) to steel themselves mentally," he said on the sidelines of a friendly gathering after a prayers ceremony held at his residence in Cikeas in connection with the wedding of his second son, Edhie Baskoro with Siti Rubi Aliya Rajasa, the daughter of chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa on Tuesday afternoon.

The President said the achievements made by the Indonesian athletes during the 10-day international sports fest had made the nation proud and at the same time shown that hard work was one of the keys to success.

"My comment on the SEA Games : our athletes` performance was extraordinary," he said , noting that previously there had been some skepticism about their capability.

Some had said the country was not ready for the SEA Games while others said they believed the country would fail and still others had called for its postponement for another four months.

"I have said that they must not be fought with words but we must prove we can do it. God is Great. God helps those who do their best," he said.

President Yudhoyono meanwhile warned that some would still continue to criticize although the country had made an achievement in the 26th SEA Games by collecting until 12:00 hours on Tuesday 181 gold medals to emerge as then overall champion.

"The total collection of gold medals now is 181. They would certainly comment why not 200. That is the world and we must be ready to face it," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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