Some 2,000 journalists to cover 26th SEA Games

Palembang, S.Sumatra - Around 2,000 journalists, domestic and foreign, are registered as planning to cover the 26th South East Asian Games (SEA Games) which will take place in Palembang and Jakarta from November 11 through 22, 2011.

Chairman of the sports section of the Indonesian Journalilsts Association (PWI) Raja Parlindungan Pane made the statement here on Saturday, adding that they would be covering the major events in South Sumatra`s capital city of Palembang and in Jakarta.

He said domestic journalists registered planning to cover the games numbered 1,200 and foreign journalists 800, including TV crews.

During the SEA Games, a total of 542 gold medals will be contested in competitions in 44 sport branches. In Palembang, the games will be held at the Jakabaring sports complex. Competitions in half of the 44 sport branches would be held in Palembang.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Sea Games are scheduled to be held in the Jakabaring sports stadium.

The 44 sport branches the games would consist of are 1.Aquatics, 2. Archery, 3. Athletics, 4. Badminton, 5. Baseball, 6. Basketball, 7. Billiards & Snooker, 8. Bowling, 9. Boxing, 10. Bridge, 11. Canoeing, 12. Chess, 13. Cycling, 14. Equestrian, 15. Fencing, 16. Fin Swimming, 17. Football, 18. Futsal, 19. Golf, 20. Gymnastics, 21. Judo, 22. Karate, 23. Paragliding, 24. Pencak Silat, 25. Petanque, 26. Roller Sports, 27. Rowing, 28. Sailing, 29. Sepaktakraw, 30. Shorinji Kempo, 31. Shooting, 32. Softball, 33. Soft Tennis, 34. Table Tennis, 35. Taekwondo, 36. Tennis, 37. Traditional Boat Race, 38. Volleyball, 39. Vovinam, 40. Wall Climbing ,41. Water Ski, 42. Weightlifting, 43. Wrestling, and 44. Wushu.

The SEA Games will be participated in by e athletes from eleven countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Timor Leste, Vietnam and host Indonesia.(*)

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SEA Games torch run around Komodo Island

Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara - Marathon runner Ruyati ran the 26th Southeast Asian Games torch around Komodo Island in East Nusa Tenggara on Wednesday as part of the torch`s journey to Palembang, South Sumatra, where the games will take place.

The torch was flown from Semarang, Central Java, and arrived at Komodo airport in Labuhan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara at 10.15am local time and was immediately taken to Komodo Island.

Accompanying the torch were Sea Games chief executive Rahmad Gobel, Komodo envoy Jusuf Kalla and Komodo Success Committee members.

Before four Komodos the torch was handed over by Rachmad Gobel to East Nusa Tenggara Deputy Governor Esthon L Foenay.

"This is moving. The SEA Games torch was handed over in conjunction with the presentaion of a World Seven Wonders finalist certificete on Komodo Island," Esthon said.

At the Hutan Asam location four Komodos aged around 25 years old witnessed the presence of the SEA Games torch.

Jusuf Kalla received the finalist certificate directly from the New Seven Wonders director, Benard Weber. "Before these komodos I accept the certificate," Kalla said when receiving the certificate.

Jusuf Kalla along with his delegation visited the island as part of the Vote Komodo 9818 campaign to have the island recognized as one of the new World Seven Wonders. (Uu.J004/H-YH/HAJM/A014)

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Thousands mourn at Simoncelli`s funeral

Rome - Thousands of fans, friends and family attended Marco Simoncelli`s funeral in Italy Thursday five days after the MotoGP rider died after losing control of his motorcycle during the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Mourners followed an Italian tradition of bidding farewell to the dead by clapping as the 24-year old`s coffin passed before being taken to its final resting place.

Close friend and seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi was present.

"The evening before your last race you said you wanted to win the Grand Prix because you would have seen everyone better up there on the podium. Now we are pained that we can`t see you, but it gives us great joy and hope to know that we have been framed by you from the highest podium there is," said Francesco Lambiasi, the bishop of Rimini, who gave the homily.

About 1,000 people who couldn`t fit in the small town`s church followed the funeral on large-screens at the nearby Misano racetrack. (T.A045/H-AK)

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Massa wants Buddh kerbs altered

The Ferrari driver, who had several encounters with the kerbs during the proceedings sessions, finally came undone in Q3 when he hit the kerbs at Turn 8.

The impact broke his right front suspension and sent the Brazilian crashing into the barriers at Turn 9.

It also resulted in him losing a place to Jenson Button on the timesheets as the McLaren driver posted his best time seconds after Massa's crash.

"What happened on my last timed lap was a real shame," Massa said.

"Today, we had the potential to secure a good placing, as Fernando demonstrated and as can also be seen from the fact my sixth best time was set with a rather slow third sector.

"I came into Turn 8 and went over the kerb and the front right suspension gave way in the impact with the raised orange part, which in my opinion is too high at this point.

"It's a very fast corner, taken at around 215 km/h and it could be arranged differently. These are details that need improving for next year."

Massa will start Sunday's Indian GP from sixth place on the grid and a lingering concern that making up positions could be difficult due to the dust on the new track.

"I repeat, I am disappointed, because the car has been going well all weekend long. Now I find myself with one less set of Softs and with a broken front wing.

"It was the new one, which we had here for the first time and it delivered a bit extra in terms of performance

"Tomorrow, overtaking will be difficult because of the dirt on track, but I think we will still see a lot."

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Button dedicates result to Dan and Marco

The Brit, who finished second in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, joined his fellow drivers in honouring the duo, both of whom lost their lives earlier this month in racing accidents, with a minute's silence.

"We've had two fatalities and it's very difficult," Button said.

"I knew Dan from a young age - so I think we should dedicate this first Indian race to Dan and to Marco, who was the most amazing man to watch on a bike."

As for his race, Button lamented the fact that his McLaren just didn't have the pace needed to challenge Sebastian Vettel for the victory.

However, on the up side, he made up two positions at the start when overtook first Fernando Alonso and then Mark Webber. And despite the latter's attempts to retake the position, Button was able to hold him at bay.

"The start off the line didn't feel that good but I was able to get Fernando into Turn One.

"I think he went a bit deep and I was in Mark's tow. He covered the inside but I had enough room to go around the outside.

"I had Mark behind me for eight laps pushing me really, really hard - we both almost ran wide - but I was able to pull away as I think he had damaged his tyres a little bit.

"The pace isn't quite there but hopefully in the last races we can take that little step."

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Former world badminton champion to be SEA Games torch bearer

Revered 1983 world badminton champion Icuk Sugiarto will be one of the torch bearers for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), an official said.

Central Java’s Youth and Sports Agency head Budi Santoso told reporters on Friday that Icuk was scheduled to receive the torch at the Mrapen Eternal Flame of Manggamas Village, Gobongan Regency on Sunday Oct.23.

Budi said that a traditional spiritual leader of the Mrapen flame would light the torch and hand it over to Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo before it is passed on to Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng.

The torch will later be extended to Indonesia SEA Games Organizing Committee (Inasoc) chairperson Rita Subowo, who would hand it over to Icuk.

Icuk will pass the torch to a group of five consisting of boxer Ahmad Amri, pencak silat masters Fitroh Ramadhani and Anisa Pangestina, volleyball great Ayu Fajar Rianti and Abdul Kohar, who helped bring international recognition to the sport of sepak takraw.

“The group of five will take turns in relaying the torch during a one-kilometer parade. After that the torch will be taken by car to Borobudur Temple in Magelang Regency and the entourage will spend the night in Yogyakarta,” Budi said Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

The entire torch relay will stop in Semarang, (Central Java), Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara), Jayapura (Papua), Makassar (South Sulawesi), Balikpapan (East Kalimantan), Jakarta and Palembang (South Sumatra).

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Simoncelli dies after accident at Malaysian MotoGP

A Malaysian MotoGP official says Italian rider Marco Simoncelli has died after an accident at the race.

Norlina Ayob, press officer with the Sepang circuit, says Simoncelli, 24, died as a result of his injuries.

Simoncelli lost control of his Honda at turn 11, but his bike regained partial grip and pulled him back across the track, straight into the path of American Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi of Italy.

Simoncelli's helmet was ripped off in the incident and he was motionless on the track after the collision. He had been fourth at the end of lap one.

The other two riders are unhurt.

The race has been called off.

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