JIMBARAN (10/21/08) – The president of International Olympic Council (IOC) Jacques Rogge awarded Indonesia for the success of Asian Beach Games.

The award was given to Rita Sobowo as the Indonesian Sports Committee and National Olympic Committee Chairperson on Monday (20/10) at Intercontinental Hotel, Jimbaran, Bali.

Also attended the ceremony were the president of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah along with other international sports federation representatives.

The president of IOC was impressed with the fact that Indonesia could organize Asian Beach Games despite the global economic crisis. “This is something worth awarded to, adding the fact that the last time Indonesia organized similar event was 46 years ago,” as Rita quoted what Rogge said. (bali2008 – Kompas)

Sanur – The Asian Beach Games (ABG) is not only a sport event among Asian countries. According to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), ABG is a tool to go to more harmonic civilization.

That’s part of SBY speech when formally opening the Asian Beach Games 2008 which was held in Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Bali, Saturday (October 18, 20008) evening.

“Asian Beach Games can be an agent for harmonic civilication in the spirit of togetherness and brotherhood,” said SBY that came using Balinese Batik in dark blue color, complete with Balinese traditional hat in dark red color.

Besides that, SBY also considers the event like ABG is an indication of the stronger role of Asia to the world. SBY event said that this 21st century will be the century of Asia.

“This is the century of Asia. There will be many Asian countries rise. Diplomacy, economy, technology, culture and sport all will rise,” SBY continued.

At the closing of the speech, SBY that came with Madam Ani Yudhoyono also remind all the athletes to perform at the maximum performance to achieve the highest achievement with also holding fast to the sportively values.

“Stretch out your best ability, stretch out your best ability. But besides all the competitions do not forget the values of brotherhood and sportivity”, said SBY a while before formally opened the ABG.

(translated from: http://www.detiksport.com/read/2008/10/19/001759/1022235/82/sby-ini-abadnya-asia)

Sanur – Opening ceremony of Asian Beach Games finally was opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) who attended the ceremony with Madam Ani Yudhoyono. This ceremony was also crowded by some popular singers.

Asian Beach Games (ABG) 2008 was just opened by opening speech by President SBY last night. Some performances were also exhibited during the opening ceremony, including the performance of Asian singers who have been go international.

President SBY and Madam Ani Yudhoyono arrived at location of ABG opening in the complex of Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Bali, Saturday (October 18, 2008) at 8 PM Bali time.

SBY wore Bali batik suit in dark blue color, with Balinese traditional hat in dark red color. While Madam Ani wore Balinese traditional suit in light green color, with Balinese traditional hair knot.

Along with President SBY, there are Governor of Bali I Made Mangku Pastika and some ministers from Kabinet Indonesia Bersatu (United Indonesian Cabinet) like Minister of The Public Prosperity Coordinator Aburizal Bakrie, Minister o Youth and Sports Adhyaksa Dault, Minister of Communication and Informatics M Nuh and also Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik. Governor of DKI Jakarta Fauzi Bowo was also seen in the ceremony.

When SBY arrived, the anthem of Indonesia Raya filled the air, followed by the performance of Kecak Dance.

“Indonesia was appointed as the first country who runs Asian Beach Games by Olympic Committee of Asia on 9 September 2005. Since then the preparation was began,” said Minister of Public Prosperity Coordinator Aburizal Bakrie in his speech.

This event will run for 9 days from 18 until 26 October 2008. In this event, there will be some games competition held like beach soccer, beach volley ball, beach sepak takraw and also 2 sports expedition.

This event was followed by 45 Asian countries, with totally 3000 atheletes will compete.

This event is estimated will spend 300 billion rupiah or more. There was performance of popular singer Reza Artamevia in the opening ceremony who sing the theme song of ABG “Inspire The World” created by Dwiki Dharmawan. There was also performance of 3 Asian famous singers: Andre Hehanusa (Indonesia), Christian Bautista (Philippines), and Mark Lazaro (India).

BALI ISLAND, Indonesia, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — The first Asian Beach Games opening ceremony was held on October 18 in Bali Island of Indonesia, which attracts almost 3000 athletes from 45 countries and regions in Asia.

Thousands of dancers performed traditional program, which featured local arts and cultures at the opening ceremony held at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in Bali Island.  Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Indonesia president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and athletes from 45 countries and regions present the opening ceremony.

The multi-event will be another history for Indonesia in organizing an event under the sanctions of Olympic Council of Asia after the fourth Asian Games in Jakarta, 1962.

Asian Beach Games in Bali is Asia’s first multiple sports event situated on beaches. A total of 17 sports and two demonstration sports will be held in the games, which will last nine days at four world renowned beaches, namely Kuta Beach, Nusa Dua, Sanur Beach and Serangan Island.

The biennial Asian Beach Games, together with the Asian Games, the Asian Winter Games and the Asian Indoor Games, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia, are four major sporting events in Asia.

The third Asian Beach Games will be hosted in Haiyang, east China’s Shandong province in 2012, after the second in Oman in 2010.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono greeted spectators outside the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) resort in Jimbaran subdistrict, Badung district, Bali, prior to the opening ceremony of the Asian Beach Games (ABG) on Saturday evening.

“Good evening everybody,” the head of state said as he entered the location where the ABG opening ceremony was to be held.

The spectators who were eager to watch the opening ceremony then enthusiastically returned the President greeting in a massive chorus.

On the occasion, the president was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Adyaksa Dault, and Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika.

Spectators who could not be admitted into the Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) resort for lack of space , could watch the event on two giant television screens installed in front of its main gate.

Those who were outside the GWK could sit on the floor or on the wall to watch the ceremony on tv while a number of foreign athletes from Oman, Srilanka, and Vietnam were taking photographs at the corners of GWK.

DENPASAR: Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Adm. (ret) Widodo A.S. arrived here Friday to inspect the security arrangements at venues ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony on Saturday.

State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar, National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Bali military commander Maj. Gen. Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan and police chief Insp. Gen. T Ashikin Husein were seen accompanying the minister during his visit to the venues at Sanur Beach, Kuta Beach, Nusa Dua and Jimbaran.

About 10,000 police and military personnel have been deployed to maintain security during the 10-day Games. Four warships will patrol the tourist island.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will open the Games at a ceremony attended by International Olympics Committee chief Jacques Rogge and Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad al-Sabah. – JP

(taken from: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/10/18/top-security-asian-beach-games.html)

BAHRAIN’s beach soccer and volleyball teams took victories in their opening matches in the first Asian Beach Games being held in Bali, Indonesia.

The beach soccer team, under the helm of Brazilian coach Gustavo Silva, trounced Vietnam 3-0 in Group ‘C’ match and stayed on course for a berth in the quarter-finals.

In a three-period match of 36 minutes, the Bahrainis had a cautious start but they eventually found the target twice in the second period then secured victory by scoring the third goal in the third period.

The Bahraini team were spearheaded by Ibrahim Hassan, Amir Shebib, Ali Habib, Ibrahim Abdulla, Sadeq Marhoon, Hussam Al Mannai, Yaqoob, Salah Salman, Isa Saleh and Mahmood Al Ghawi.

Bahrain’s second match in this four-team group is scheduled for tomorrow against Kuwait and another win for Silva’s side will seal their berth in the last eight. Group favourites South Korea are the fourth side whom Bahrain play on Tuesday.

A total of 16 teams from across the continent are taking part in the beach soccer competition. The teams were divided into four groups of four teams each.

The sides are battling it out in the first round which features round robin matches and the top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals knock-out stage.

Bahrain’s beach volleyball team of Ayman Haroona and Hassan Aqeel followed suit, winning their inaugural match in Group ‘J’ against Thailand’s Sangkhachot and Pollueang 21-14, 21-15.

Coached by former national team player Ali Jaffer, the Bahrainis lived up to expectations and took this match in straight sets as they started their title bid on a high note.

Mohammed Al Fardan is leading the beach volleyball team delegation which was due to take part in this tournament with two teams. However, they were reduced to one after Ibrahim suffered an injury just before making the trip to Bali.

His team partner, Qader Abdulla, was therefore unable to travel with the delegation.

Sailing

This championship is having an impressive number of 37 teams taking part. The teams were drawn into 10 groups.

Bahrain will also be taking part in the three-day sailing which gets underway on Tuesday with the laser 4.7 races.

The Bahrain sailing delegation is being headed by Sameer Shuwaiterand includes coach Qassim bin Jamia besides two sailors – Omar Abdulaziz and Ahmed Salman.

Bahrain are keen to make a strong impact during this nine-day event which will see a total of 3,876 athletes, representing 45 Asian countries, in the fray.

The Asian Beach Games is the first of its kind in the region and will mark the largest of its kind in the world.

The multi-sport event is being held every two years and celebrates cooperation and unity despite athletes from nations of different back grounds and cultures.

JAKARTA (10/18/08) – As Indonesia faces economy crisis, Achmed Solihin, BABGOC Deputy of Finance and Treasury is still certain that the global crisis will not have significant effect on the multi event. However, BABGOC will still prepares and anticipates all possible options, including the worst ones by rescheduling all payment.

“We are certain that all is manageable both income and cost. We reviewed all the income to be adjusted to the cost and spending,” Ahmed said as interviewed.

“We will reschedule all payment to make sure everything goes well,” he added. Ahmed claims that all preparations were done before the crisis stroke, so the direct impact will be minimum. (Irw)

JAKARTA (10/17/08) – Asian Beach Games will be inaugurated tomorrow at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Monument. The ceremony will be attended by top government officials – as the President is also scheduled to attend the ceremony. The multi event will be another history for Indonesia in organizing an event under the sanctions of OCA after the 4th Asian Games in Jakarta, 1962.

As the opening ceremony draws near, BABGOC finishes all necessary facilities for the games including four media centers to cater to more than 500 journalists. The facilities are located in Kuta Beach, Sanur Beach, Nusa Dua-Benoa and Serangan Island, and equipped with services such as PCs, printers, copy machines, and Internet connection for journalists to write stories on the Games.

Meanwhile, security increases by bringing in more forces from the military and police department. The military involves anti riot and anti terror squad, cavalry, and canine unit, with total number of 10 thousand personnel. (Irw)

JAKARTA (10/17/08) – INDONESIA targets to win gold medals from nine of all 17 sports disciplines in Asian Beach Games. Djoko Pramono said that Indonesia can gain significant benefits from all nine sports as the athletes ranked in Asia, even the world.

All nine sports are beach pencak silat, beach takraw, beach volleyball, body building, dragon boat, jetski, surfing, wind surfing and paragliding. “Our target will be more that Asian Games Doha 2006. However, pencak silat team sets their own target to win four gold medals.

Oyong Karmayudha, the team manager, said that the team will comprise of SEA Games Thailand 2007 and Indonesian National Games gold medalists. (Irw)