VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

At least 300 of 10,900 runners who joined the 2019 Borobudur Marathon in Magelang District, Central Java Province, on Sunday, came from foreign countries, including Malaysia, Kenya, Singapore, Japan, and the United States of America, the organizing committee of this annual event has revealed.

According to Budiman Tanuredjo, the event organizer, the number of runners joining this year's Borobudur Marathon increased to 10,900 from 9,600 runners last year.

Encompassing the scenic beauty of surrounding areas of Borobudur Temple, one of Indonesia's popular tourist destinations, 4,300 runners competed in the half-marathon category while 4,300 others joined the 10K, he said.

Budiman Tanuredjo said the event organizer prepared everything needed to make this Borobodur Marathon successful. "Achievement is important but comfort and safety for the runners are also important," he said.

The Central Java provincial administration warmly welcomed this 2019 Borobudur Marathon, and would support the convening of this annual event, Head of Youth, Sports, and Tourism Office at the Central Java Provincial Administration Sinung Nugroho Rahmadi said.

As revealed in the Borobudur Marathon's official website, this event was a sport tourism which was expected to give positive economic impact on local community members, and provide tourists and runners with new experience of exploring Magelang in a unique way.

Through this event, the tourists and runners were also expected to feel local people's warm hospitality, genuine Javanese culture, and culinary delicacy. The Borobudur Marathon is expected to help create synergy and harmony between people, nature, and culture.

The Borobudur Temple has frequently been used as a place for convening big sport tourism events.

In August this year, the UCI category 2.1 international cycling race of Tour d'Indonesia (TdI) also kicked off from this ancient temple with 18 domestic and foreign participating teams.

The first stage began from Borobudur Temple and concluded in Ngawi, East Java Province.

The 18 teams comprised 90 cyclists from 22 countries, including France, Greek, Spain, and England.

Of the 18 teams, the four Indonesian teams were Indonesia's National Team, PGN Road Cycling Team, Custom Cycling Indonesia (CCI), and KFC Cycling Team. (ANTARA)