VietNamNet Bridge – This is the fourth time that Indonesia hosts the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). Around $268 million has been invested in this event.
SEA Games 2011 will be held in two cities – Jakarta and Palembang, from November 11 to 22. Jakarta previously host SEA Games 1979, 1987 and 1997 while Palembang is the third city in SEA Games history, which is not capital city but hosts SEA Games, after Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Around two weeks after SEA Games 2011, the 6th ASEAN ParaGames for disabled athletes will be organized in Surakarta, central Java.

The head of the SEA Games 2011 organizing board – Inasoc – is chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee, Rita Subowo. Executive director of SEA Games 2011 is Rahmat Gobel, an Indonesian financier who is also President of Panasonic Gobel Indonesia.

Last year, Indonesia allocated around $38.7 million from the State budget to prepare the largest sports event in Southeast Asia. This year, this country spends an additional $230 million.

Most of activities of SEA Games 2011 will be held in Palembang, the capital of South Sumatra, with around 296 sports categories, while Jakarta will host around 266 categories. The opening and closing ceremonies will take place in Palembang.

The Indonesia government initially planed to organize the event in four places: Jakarta, West Java, Central Java and South Sumatra. However, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono chose two locations to cut cost.

The zone for athletes, named Jakabaring in Palembang, is around 45,000sq.m. It is located in front of Jakabaring Stadium.

To serve SEA Games 2011, Palembang authorities have doubled the area of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport. The airport currently has seven air routes to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Inasoc will increase the number of flights, particularly for the Jakarta - Palembang and Singapore – Palembang routes.

The city will also increase the number of buses to 40 large-sized buses, 100 midibuses, 300 minibuses and 100 motorbikes.

Jakarta has the Soekarno–Hatta International Airport and a rather complete traffic system. However, the local government is expanding many roads.

During the SEA Games 2011, vehicles will be banned on many inner roads from 5am to 10pm.

The logo of SEA Games 2011 is Garuda, Indonesia’s national symbol. The body of Garuda symbolizes the strength while its wings represent glory and magnificence.

The mascot is Modo and Modi, a pair of Komodo dragons. Komodo is Indonesia’s endemic dragon species, which live on Rinca and Padar islands in East Nusa Tenggara.

Modo is the short name of Komodo while “Modo-Modi” is transcription of “Muda-Mudi” word which means youth in Indonesia language.
Palembang authorities previously proposed to choose the Sumatran elephant as the mascot, while President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Indonesian National Sports Committee wanted to use Rajawali eagle. However, both proposals were rejected.

Choosing a Komodo dragon as the mascot of SEA Games is the way to advertise and call for the region’s support for recognizing the Komodo National Park as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

Sports centres for SEA Games in Palembang

Sports centres	Sports
Dempo Hall	aerobic
Dempo Sport Complex	weightlifting
Gedung Serbaguna Jakabaring	wrestling
Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium	football
Jakabaring Sport Complex	Aquatic sports
Jakabaring Billiard Arena	Ballard
Jayakarta Hotel	Chess
Lumban Tirta Arena	Water polo
Ranau Gymnastic Hall	gymnastics
SPC Jakabaring	Sepak takraw
Swarna Dwipa Hotel	Bridge card
University of Sriwijaya (Fieldhouse and Sriwijaya Sport Hall)	Boxing, volleyball (indoor)

Sports centres for SEA Games in Jakarta

Sports centres	Sports
Ancol	Cycling (BMX)
Arthayasa Stables and Country Club	Horserace
Bowling Jaya Ancol	Bowling
Gelanggang Remaja Tanjung Priok	Vovinam
Gelora Bung Karno	Football
Gunung Mas	Parachute
Gunung Pancar	Cycling (MTB)
Jagorawi Country Club	Golf, wood ball
Lake Cipule	Canoeing/kayaking, rowing
Kelapa Gading Judo Center	Judo
Kelapa Gading Sports Mall	Basketball
Padepokan Pencak Silat	Pencak silat
POPKI Sport Hall	Futsal, Taekwondo
Putri Island	Aquatic sports (outdoor)
Senayan Sport Complex: Istora Senayan, Lapangan ABC, Tennis Indoor	Archery, badminton, karatedo, wushu
Soemantri Brodjonegoro Sport Complex	Table tennis
Subang Road	Cycling (long distance)
University of Indonesia	Fencing
Velodrome Rawamangun	Track cycling

 

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