Forty one teams confirmed for Asian Beach Games in Indonesia
3/9/2008 17:43
Forty one countries and regions with 3,000 athletes have confirmed their
participation in the Asian Beach Games in Bali, Indonesia from Oct. 18 to 26,
according to a newspaper in Jakarta today.
Others four countries are expected
to register later, bringing the total teams to 45 with 6,000 athletes, according
to the Bali Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (BABGOC).
Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was scheduled to open the games and Vice
President Jusuf Kalla would attend the closing ceremony, Rita Subowo,
chairperson of the Indonesian sport association or KONI was quoted by the
Jakarta Post as saying.
Besides, scores of world's leaders will present at
the games, said Subowo.
"Forty-one leaders and several very important people,
including British Royal and Qatar Royal family members, have also confirmed
their presence at the opening ceremony," she said.
Seventeen sports will be
featured in the games; they are handball, kabaddi (traditional Indian team
sport), pencak silat (Indonesia's traditional martial art), sepak takraw (a
cross between volleyball and soccer), beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach
wrestling, bodybuilding, dragon boat racing, jet skiing, marathon swimming,
paragliding, sailing, surfing, triathlon, windsurfing and wood
ball.
Indonesia is preparing 214 athletes and 70 coaches to take part in all
17 sports. The country's athletes have been in Bali for training since last
month.
Xinhua
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