INDONESIA SERIOUS ABOUT HOSTING 2032 OLYMPICS: WIDODO TO TELL IOC by Fardah

 

Jakarta, 5 Nov 2020 -President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to visit Switzerland to demonstrate Indonesia’s seriousness and readiness to host the 2032 Olympics.

 He plans to personally convince the Olympic International Committee (OIC ) to choose Indonesia as the host of the world’s foremost and largest sporting event.

 "We have successfully organized the Asian Games and Asian Para Games in 2018. This raises confidence and improves the world’s perception that Indonesia is capable of being a good host for international events," he emphasized during a virtual limited cabinet meeting to discuss Indonesia's bid for hosting the 2032 Olympics, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on November 3, 2020.

 Jokowi had first voiced his intention of hosting the Olympics on September 1, 2018 while receiving OIC president Thomas Bach and chief of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Syekh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java.

 On February 19, 2019, Indonesia made its 2032 Olympics bid official, with the dispatch of letters from President Widodo and the Indonesian Olympic Committee to the IOC in Lausanne.

 Indonesia's bid to host the 2032 Olympics is not meant for showing off, but rather aimed at raising the nation's image and dignity, Jokowi said.

 "This is because we have to make this candidacy a momentum to organize ourselves and to improve various aspects that have been lacking so far," he added.

 He said he has instructed his staff to prepare sports infrastructure, improve coaching for athletes, and increase global visibility for Indonesia as a potential host for the 2032 Olympics, among other things.

 The selection process to host the 2032 Olympics will be held in 2023, and the results will be determined in 2024.

  The 2032 Olympics will be a Summer Olympics. Paris (France) and Los Angeles (United States) have won the ticket to host the Olympics in 2024 and 2028, respectively.

 Indonesia is expected to compete with Australia, Germany, Korea, Qatar, and China for hosting the 2032 Olympics.

 While speaking to reporters, Thomas Bach, who had attended the closing ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, had said: "To answer your question, yes, I think Indonesia's chances (of hosting the Olympics) are quite high."

OWI, BUTET RETURN HOME TO HEROES' WELCOME by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 31, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesian shuttlers Tantowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir who secured a gold medal for their country at the 2016 Rio Olympics were given a heroes' welcome on arrival.
         They have made the Indonesian people proud by winning the gold medal for the country on the day when the nation celebrated the 71st anniversary of independence.
         Moreover, the gold medal came from badminton, which is the most popular sport in the nation, with a population of over 250 million.
         Tontowi, popularly known as Owi, his partner, Liliyana alias Butet, defeated the Malaysian pair Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying in the badminton mixed doubles final in straight games, 21-14, 21-12, in Rio de Janeiro, on August 17, 2016.
         "I am thankful to Allah SWT. This is the most beautiful gift to us and all Indonesian people on the occasion of Independence Day. Thank you for all the support," Owi noted.   
    "Playing on Independence Day, in fact, boosted our energy and spirits to deliver our best," Butet remarked.
         Butet and Owi had worked hard to realize their dream and were the world champions in 2013 and the All England champions for three consecutive years in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
        Crowds of well-wishers gathered to greet the duo when they joined a parade along the main streets of Jakarta recently as well as on arrival in their hometowns.

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IS GIFT ON INDONESIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 18, 2016 (Antara)- Indonesia received one of the most memorable gifts on its Independence Day, when its shuttlers Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir bagged the country's first gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 17.

         "This success is a gift for the Indonesian Independence Day celebration," Tontowi Ahmad, popularly known as Owi, said after he and his partner, Liliyana Nasir alias Butet, defeated Malaysian pair Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying in the badminton mixed doubles final in straight games, 21-14, 21-12. 
   President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) lauded the duo for winning the  gold medal in the badminton mixed doubles final at the 31st Olympics.

       "Finally, we heard Indonesia Raya (Indonesian national anthem) at the Rio 2016 Olympics," Jokowi tweeted on his Twitter account.

        "Gold medal from Tontowi Ahmad & Lilyana Natsir. Congratulations! - Jkw," he tweeted.

         Owi and Butet were calm, solid, and mature during the match.

         "Playing on the Independence Day, in fact, boosted our energy and spirits to deliver our best," Butet emphasized.

         Born in Banyumas, Central Java, on July 18, 1987, Owi thanked over 100 Indonesian supporters, including Indonesian Ambassador to Brazil Toto Riyanto, who watched the match in the Riocenro badminton arena in Brazil.