ANCHOR: And now some good news for beach sport fans... the Asia Beach Games 2008 opens in Bali this Saturday. Our Indonesian team reports from the torch-lighting ceremony. STORY: On Friday, at Indonesia's National Palace, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono lit the torch from fire taken from Mirapen a special village in Java where ground emissions of natural gas stoke eternal flames. [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesian President]: This torch relay is a symbol of our efforts to launch the first Asian Beach Games in Indonesia in high spirits. The torch will be brought to Bali and then carried by 45 different athletes through ten cities. Its last stop will be at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park, for the Games' opening ceremony. [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesian President]: We hope this competition will be in the spirit to build togetherness, spirit to strengthen our brotherhood and cooperation with each other, Asian countries and all countries in the world. The Asian Beach Games are being held this year for the first time. They include sports on the beach like bodybuilding, volleyball, and wrestling, as well as water sports like sailing, jet-skiing, surfing, and swimming. The Games are expected to be a major attraction to tourists. [Adhyaksa Dault, Ministry of Youth and Sport]: These sports promote tourism and culture. But as an expert in sports, I still hope that the Indonesian National Sport Committee will take note of the athletes' achievements. 45 countries will participate in the Games. NTD, Jakarta, Indonesia.
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Added: Oct 14, 2008 |
| Category: News |
Author: NTDTV |
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