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Games torch begins journey in Indonesia
Tuesday, October 25, 2011


The Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) torch relay has set out, starting the journey from Indonesia's "eternal flame' source at Mrapen, Central Java, to around the country before the Games opening ceremony on Nov 11, local media reported yesterday.

The Mrapen flame is fuelled by natural gas discovered centuries ago and has been the source of fire for the torches of the 1963 Games of the New Emerging Forces (Ganefo), the 1981 National Games (PON), as well as more recent sporting events such as the 2008 Asian Beach Games (ABG) in Bali and the 2010 ABG in Muscat, Oman.

Mrapen caretaker Muryo Prasetyo lit the torch on Sunday and handed it to Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo, Indonesia Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Andi Mallarangeng and Indonesian SEA Games Organising Committee (Inasoc) chairwoman Rita Subowo.

"Hopefully this flame will light up the spirit of athleticism and togetherness in the Southeast Asian region and motivate our national athletes to compete," Andi was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

The torch was then handed to Ruwiyati, the former athlete and holder of the 1995 SEA Games marathon record in Chiang Mai and 2009 SEA Games silver medallist boxer Ahmad Amri, who brought it in after one-kilometre run.

Courtesy from Brunei Times