Some 14,120 runners from 50 countries will compete for a cash prize of Rp2.4 billion.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakartas Metro Jaya Police Department will deploy eight hundred personnel to secure the 2014 Jakarta Marathon to be held on Sunday, October 26.

"We will deploy eight hundred personnel on security duty, starting Saturday night (Oct 25)," Metro Jaya Police Departments spokesperson Senior Commissioner Rikwanto said here on Friday.

Rikwanto added that the personnel would be deployed mostly along the marathon route, from the Monument National Square to Old Town area.

"There will not be any special regulation as the event will coincide with Car-Free Day (which is held every Sunday along MH Thamrin until Sudirman Street). But, the marathons route to Old Town will be guarded, so will be the routes to Kapten Tendean and Gatot Subroto Street," he explained.

From Saturday (Oct 25) the police will assist the Jakarta Marathon committee in organizing the event.

"We will assist in preparations on Saturday night (Oct 25), so that everything is ready by 4 a.m. on Sunday (Oct 26). The event will start at 5 a.m. local time," Rikwanto noted.

According to traffic management plan, road closures and diversions to facilitate the marathon will be in place from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m local time on Sunday (Oct 26).

However, Rikwanto stated, the police expect all runners to finish their marathon race by 9 a.m. local time, as they are worried about traffic management.

"Those runners who do not finish by 9 a.m. local time will be picked up in cars as traffic restrictions for too long might disturb traffic flow," Rikwanto explained.

The police will also provide medical team to assist the Jakarta governments emergency team. Some hospitals have also been told to prepare for any emergency situation. They include Atma Jaya Hospital, Tebet Hospital, Gatot Subroto Hospital, and Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

The 2014 Jakarta Marathon will be the second annual event organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the government of Jakarta Capital Region.

The marathon has five race categories: full Marathon (42.195 km), half Marathon (21 km), 10 km, 5 km, and Marathon for kids.

Some 14,120 runners from 50 countries will compete for a cash prize of Rp2.4 billion.

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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