Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The euphoria surrounding the SEA Gamesis beginning to be seen, such as in North Jakarta where banners have been hung to welcome the the SEA Games torch, scheduled to arrive in Jakarta since beginning its journey in Samarinda, on Saturday Nov 5.

Along Yos Sudarso street, Martadinata and Gunungsahari, colorful SEA GAMES XXVI banners can be seen. The North Jakarta Municipality had requested all stake holder and malls in the area to show the world that all Indonesians support the SEA Games by hanging banners.

Also, the Mayor of North Jakarta, Bambang Sugiyono, said here on Friday that North Jakarta citizen are ready to welcome the SEA Games torch.

He has asked citizens to come out and watch as the SEA Games torch arrives tomorrow.

"Hundreds of banners have already been hung to celebrate the SEA Games," he said.

The plan , he explained, calls for the torch to arrive at PT Ajinomoto office, Yos Sudarso street. The torch would then be handed over to Deputy Mayor of East Jakarta, Krisdianto, to Deputy Mayor of North Jakarta, Mangara Pardede, and then will be taken to the North Jakarta Mayor`s office.

"Before the torch arrives in North Jakarta, it will be received by the Mayor of West Jakarta at Dharmais Hospital," explained Bambang Sugiyono.

From West Jakarta, the torch will later be paraded to Central Jakarta. After that, the torch will be brought through South Jakarta, East Jakarta, and lastly, North Jakarta. Before arriving in Palembang, South Sumatra, where the 26th SEA Games will be officially opened, the torch will be brought to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Indosat Building, Vice President`s office, and lodged at the office of the Governor of DKI Jakarta.

"The torch will be brought to Palembang by ship," he added.

Traveling by ship from Tanjungpriok Port towards Palembang will take 33 hours. The torch, heading from North Jakarta to Tanjungpriok Port will then be carried by former national badminton player Icuk Sugiarto, who also is the envoy for the SEA Games.

"There will be an art Betawi entertainment to convoy the torch journey," he said.

To anticipate congestion on the parade route of the SEA Games torch, The Traffic Police of North Jakarta have prepared to direct traffic during the torch`s journey with the help of 75 personnel, along with 50 staff members from the Transportation agency of North Jakarta and 63 Satpol PP of Tanjongpriok District.(*)

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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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