"It`s not easy for a country to hold two international events simultaneously. It could be very risky that both could have failed. We should take a note, we successfully organized the two events," Yudhoyono said here on Monday in a gathering with medal-winning athletes, members of the organizing committees of the 26th SEA Games and the 19th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.
The head of state expressed his gratitude to all parties contributing to the success of the two events.
The county`s success was thanks to good coordination and hard work, he said.
"Failure is not an option," he said, adding that one must not think of being failed.
Other countries would have seen Indonesia as incapable if the implementation of the two events had failed.
Yudhoyono asked all parties to continue working hard and learn from past experiences because Indonesia would host an APEC Summit in 2013.
The President received reports respectively from Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Andi Malarangeng representing the organizing committee of the 26th SEA Games, and Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi representing the organizing committee of the 19th Summit and Related Summits.
The 26th SEA Games was organized in Palembang (South Sumatra Province) and Jakarta From November 11 t 22, 2011, and participated in by athletes from 11 countries.
Overall, the Indonesian contingent has achieved its target of grabbing at least 150 gold medals and secured first position as the overall champion for the first time since 1997.
The 19th ASEAN Summit, the Sixth East Asia Summit (EAS) and other related summits were organized in Nusa Dua, Bali, from November 13 to 19, 2011.
(T.F008*P008/Uu.F001/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
