Jokowi Canceled to Participate in Jakarta Marathon
Reported by Folmer | Translated by Arief Rahman
Thousand of national and international runners participated the running competition entitled Mandiri Jakarta Marathon 2014, Sunday (26/10). The runner released by the Bank Mandiri official and Sapta Nirwandar as the Jakarta Marathon Chairman around 5 AM. They startd from Silang Barat Daya monas as the start line. Indonesia President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who originally planned to come participated was canceled.
Jokowi have not come this morning yet, maybe at the noon he will come
The security of the event looks tight. Hundreds of Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) wearing red training also secured the competition. Besides Paspampres, dozens of army and Police officer also guard at the start line that double as finish line. Because, Jokowi planned to participate in the running competition. But until the race was start, the number one people in this republic did not come already.
Head of Jakarta Sports and Youth Department, Ratiyono said, it is possible for Jokowi to come to Jakarta Marathon 2014 Culture Festival. Because, said Ratiyono, Jokowi is the initiator of the Jakarta Marathon last year.
Nightspots Must Close Early"Jokowi have not come this morning yet, maybe at the noon he will come. He can congratulate and give the prize to the winner," he said.
He explained, as much as more than 14 thousands people participated the Jakarta Marathon 2014. "The route is neater, the security also better, Insya Allah zero accident," he explained.
He detailed, the participants joined some running competition category such as full marathon (42 kilometer) by 2,150 runners, half marathon (21 kilometer) by 3,425 runners, 10 kilometer by 5,145 runners, and 5 kilometer by 2,950 runners. The rest are followed by children, adult, and parent.
Jakarta Provincial also allocated Rp 2.4 billion as the prize. The first winner of man and woman get Rp 250 million. Meanwhile the first place of the 40 years age get Rp 90 million. Furthermore, the first winner of 21 kilometer marathon, 10 kilometer, and 5 kilometer get Rp 70 million, Rp 30 million, and Rp 7 million each.
He added, the Mandiri Jakarta Marathon 2014 Competition was joined by elite runner from some countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Japan, Thailand, Australia, England, Malaysia, and the local runner.
Japan became the country that brought the most runner as much as 319 people. "Malaysia 93 runners, Australia 75 runners, Kenya 56 runners, England 53 runners, also some other countries. Each country bring their best runner to join this competition," he added.
