Indonesia is proud to be a part of the global Olympic torch relay for the first time and will do its utmost to prevent some irresponsible groups from stealing the show at the historical event in Jakarta on April 22.
"This is our first time to host the Olympic Torch relay and we are very proud of it," said the event organizer Sumohadi Marsis in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Being honored with the opportunity to host the torch relay which is also good news to the government's Visit Indonesia Year 2008 program, he said.
The 64-year-old said he was confident that the Beijing Olympics would run peacefully and successfully.
"May China also become the overall winner," he said.
The National Police have promised a maximum security arrangement, including escort by the anti-terror squad, because "this event is very important for us," he said.
Police will deploy at least 1,290 officers to the venue at the Senayan Sports Complex in Central Jakarta for anticipated rallies and any other attempts to steal the show, said Marsis, also a spokesman for the Indonesian National Sports Council (KONI).
"We have to separate sports from politics, because sports are the reflection of peace and fair play," said Marsis, who spent 35 years as respected sports writer in the country's largest newspaper Kompas and biggest sports tabloid Bola.
The organizers have prepared 80 torch bearers from big names in sports to top government officials to famous actresses.
Among them are Susi Susanti and husband Alan Budikusumah, the gold medalists when badminton first became a medal event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic, top shuttler Taufik Hidayat, who is expected to defend his gold medal in the Athens Olympic, World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Chris John and the 1985 International Boxing Federation (IBF) champion Ellyas Pical.
Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo is also selected to become the runner carrying the torch. He will be accompanied by State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Adhyaksa Dault and Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.
Former soccer player Tan Liong Houe is tipped to become the first runner, and the oldest as well at 76.
The route spans between 8 and 9 kilometers and each torch bearer will run for 100 meters before handing it over to the next.
"The presence of the two ministers speaks volume about how we value the opportunity to host the torch relay," said Marsis.
Asked about his country's chance, he smiled and replied: "we will be happy with one gold medal."
Indonesia continues to rely heavily on badminton, its only gold source since Barcelona.
"But the performance of the Indonesian badminton has been mediocre lately," he said.
The country's first ever Olympic medal was a silver from archery in the 1988 Seoul Games and another non-badminton medal was a bronze from women's weightlifting in Athens.
(Xinhua?News Agency April 21, 2008)