VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

People in Yogyakarta have been asked to come out to welcome the arrival of Asian Games torch in Yogyakarta Tuesday.

"This will be a pride for Yogyakarta, which would be the first place for the 18th Asian Games Torch Relay. We hope people will come out to welcome it," the special region’s administration and public welfare assistant, Sulistyo, said at a press conference in Yogyakarta on Monday.

He stated that the Yogyakarta provincial government has coordinated with the administrations of Sleman district and the city of Yogyakarta with regard to welcoming the torch that will pass the two places.

"We have also prepared security measures in cooperation with the police as this will be a historic moment. Yogyakarta is chosen to be the first to welcome the Asian Games torch as it will be the first venue of the Games," he remarked.

He noted that the event would have the potential to promote tourism in Yogyakarta and increase the number of tourists visiting the Central Java region.

He added that various kinds of event have been prepared to welcome the torch in a number of locations, such as Dirgantara museum, Ratu Boko Temple, Prambanan Temple, and Malioboro.

Asian Games 2018 Torch Relay organizer, Virza Reskyana Indra, said that the flame would be taken from New Delhi, India, as the location of the first Asian Games and is scheduled to arrive at Yogyakarta’s Adisutjipto Airport at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Chairman of Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC), Erick Thohir, would bring the torch from India, along with Torch Ambassador Susy Susanti.

"Upon arrival, it will be welcomed with a dance performance and accepted by the Forum of Communication of Regional Government (Forkopimda) and Yogyakarta governor before being taken to Dirgantara Museum," he explained.

On Wednesday, the torch would be paraded to Ratu Boko Temple and in the evening to Prambanan Temple to be met with eternal flame from Mrapen. Vice President Jusuf Kalla is scheduled to attend the event at Prambanan.

On Thursday, the torch will be taken to Tugu Jogja to be paraded for about 10 kilometers through Mangkubumi and Malioboro to Alun-Alun Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta square). From Yogyakarta, it will be taken back to Tugu before being seen off by the City Mayor Haryadi Suyuti, for the INASGOC committee to take it to Solo in Central Java. (ANTARA)

Indonesia’s senior high school Olympic team won one gold and five silver medals at the 59th International Mathematical Olympiad held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

"This is the highest achievement we have ever made. Thanks to the team that has fought to boost Indonesia’s reputation in the world-level math event, which is one of the prestigious and respected event," Head of Sub-directorate of school students, Directorate of Senior High School Development, Suharlan, said in a press statement received by Antara News Agency in Jakarta on Monday.

The achievement brought Indonesia to the 10th world rank out of 106 countries involved in the competition. Based on data from the official IMO website, for the past 30 years of participation so far, Indonesia has totally collected two gold medals, 22 silver medals, 44 bronze medals, and 30 Honorable Mention titles.

Indonesia’s achievement surpassed those of other countries, such as Australia (ranked 11th), Britain (ranked 12th), Japan (13th), Canada (16th), and Italy (17th) at the competition from July 4 to 14.

The gold medal for Indonesia was won by Gian Cordana Sanjaya (SMAK Petra 1, Surabaya), with a total score of 31. The silver medals were contributed by Alfian Edgar Tjandra (SMA Kharisma Bangsa), Kinantan Arya Bagaspati (SMA Taruna Nusantara), Farras Mohammad Hibban Faddila (SMA Kharisma Bangsa), Valentino Dante (SMAK 2 Petra, Surabaya), and Otto Alexander Sutianto (SMAK Penabur, Gading Serpong, Tangerang).

Alfian, Kinantan, and Farras each scored 29, while Valentino scored 28 and Otto scored 25.

The 10th best title achievement was the best ever made by Indonesia in the history of its participation in the IMO so far.

"This is the second gold medal won after the first one, which was collected in 2013 at the 54th IMO in Colombia, when Indonesia won the first gold medal and was ranked in the 19th position," Suharlan revealed.

The coordinator of Indonesia`s IMO team, Dr Aleams Barra, said the students had been asked to solve six problems, with three problems per day, in 4.5 hours. The problems were original and have never been done by any student before.

"It requires quick decision making, coolness, and creativity," he added.

The director of SMA (senior high school) development, Purwadi Sutanto, noted that the achievement was for the entire country.

"With high spirit and motivation, we believed we could bring home medals" he told them before departure.

Gold medalist Gian noted that their opponents were tough, but he was confident from the start that he would win a gold medal, after he won a silver medal in Brazil last year.

"America, China, Russia, Japan, Korea, and Britain are among the strongest countries," he pointed out. (ANTARA)

Indonesian athletes, who would compete in the 18th Asian Games, received influenza vaccine in an effort to boost their immunity.

A young Indonesian racer at the Asian Games 2018, Terry Yuda Kusuma, was one of athletes who received the influenza vaccine.

"Vaccination is very important in an effort to boost their immunity during the training and competition" Kusuma stated in Jakarta on Monday.

Athletes will be physically protected by the vaccine, because influenza may lower their performance during training and competition.

Youth and Sports Ministry, in cooperation with the Center for Development of Science and Technology of National Sports (PP-ITKON), conducted influenza vaccine campaign for athletes.

"Athletes and coaches are vaccinated against influenza as they may involve in many activities during the Asian Games 2018," Deputy of Sport Achievement Improvement, Youth and Sports Ministry Mulyana remarked.

Mulyana stated that the vaccine was very important. Influenza will affect the preparation of the athletes.

A flu vaccine will prevent athletes from getting sick for a year. Hence, their health conditions would be protected.

The process of influenza vaccination is done gradually.

In first stage, 100 athletes, who have undergone training to face the Asian Games, received the influenza vaccine. (ANTARA)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo hopes, Studio Alam located at Gamplong Village, Moyudan District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, can revive the village economy. Studio Alam or literally means Natural Studio is a donation of one of Indonesian businesswomen, Mooryati Soedibyo, to Sleman regency government. Speaking while attending the handing over of the studio on Sunday afternoon July 16th, the President said that Studio Alam can be used to encourage tourism sector. According to him, nowadays, many people want to have experience in traveling, not just shopping.

"So, we hope this studio can be utilized for tourism. Because, nowadays, a lot of people want experiences, not just see something or buy some souvenirs. They  are seeking experiences. So, if you look at this studio, here, I think Gamplong village will become famous. The economy is also alive. We hope for that," the President said.

Studio Alam is the location of a colossal film shooting titled Sultan Agung: The Untold Love Story. Sultan Agung who led the Sultanate of Mataram in the year 1613-1645 has the full name of Sultan Agung Adi Prabu Hanyakrakusuma. During his tenure, Mataram grew into the largest empire in Java and the archipelago at the time. Studio Alam is built on 2 hectares of land consisting of Pendopo Palace Mataram, Songgo Mataram, Fort Dutch East India Company or VOC, Ungkit Bridge, Kampung Mataram, and Chinatown. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)