MANILA, Philippines — The Indonesia Olympic Committee (KOI) will propose that 577 events in 43 sports be staged when Palembang and Jakarta play host to the 2011 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) this November in line with its quest of winning the overall crown. Indonesia last took overall honors during the 1997 edition that was held in Jakarta when it captured over 140 gold medals, which to this day remains a games record.
The 2011 SEAG is set Nov. 11 to 25 and the KOI made no qualms in saying that the events to be proposed when the SEAG Federation Council meets in Bali early next month will be those that can give Indonesia the best chances of winning gold medals.
“Most of the events we are proposing offer the prospects of a gold medal for us,” KOI spokesperson Rita Subowo told The Jakarta Globe. “It is important to help us meet our target to win the overall title.”
Still, the KOI said it would still stick to its proposed budget although among those expected to be approved for inclusion include paragliding, roller-slating, wall-climbing, bridge and vovinam (a Vietnamese martial art), according to the English-language newspaper.
In 1997 in Jakarta, there were 490 events in 43 sports that were held. The last time in Laos in 2009, there were only 372 events in 28 sports that were contested.
Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin
