Niken Prathivi, The Jakarta Post, Grobogan, Central Java

Dubbed the fastest man in Southeast Asia, Indonesian sprinter Suryo Agung Wibowo received a flaming torch near Semarang on Wednesday to mark the beginning of the 2008 Bali Asian Beach Games torch relay.

He was handed the torch by Bali Asian Beach Games director Rita Subowo at Mrapen geological site in Grobogan, around 35 kilometers outside Semarang, Central Java, and carried it for a lap of the Mrapen course.

Suryo, who was a gold medalist in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events at the 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima Southeast Asian Games, then passed the torch on to one of seven other athletes who took it in turns to carry around the course. They were: Rollerblader Alan Candra, weightlifter Hadi, sepaktakraw athlete Yudi Purnomo, volleyballer Ardi Muyanto and footballers Mico Ardiyanto and Zauzan.

"This torch symbolizes an eternal flaming spirit within sports," Rita, who also chairs the Indonesian Sports Council, told reporters after the ceremony.

"I call for support from all Indonesian citizens for the success of the Bali Beach Games. Hopefully, we can inspire the world with our efforts," she said, referring to the theme of the games, Inspire the World.

From Mrapen, which is a regular site for starting torch relays of national sporting events, the flame was ferried by bus to Central Java provincial office in Semarang.

"We welcome the games and wish all involved the best of luck," Central Java's newly-elected deputy governor, Rustriningsih, told reporters.

From Semarang, the torch continued on toward Jakarta, and is expected to arrive at the Indonesian Sports Council headquarters by 3 p.m., Thursday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to hand over the games torch back to Rita on Friday, before it is relayed from Jakarta to Bali by motorcade.

The torch is expected to arrive in the resort island on Saturday, and will be paraded through eight regencies and one municipality.

The games, which will run from Oct. 18 to 26, will be officially opened by the President on Oct. 18 at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park in southern Bali.

Some 5,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries are expected to take part in the Rp 210 billion event that will feature 17 beach sport events.

Source : Jakarta Post