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A multimillion-dollar renovation project for another sports stadium in Indonesia is set to begin. It appears the country’s officials are pulling out all stops for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.

The South Sumatra provincial government said recently that it has approved an Rp 1.5 trillion ($159 million) development plan to refurbish Jakabaring Sports Complex in Palembang.

Renovation at the 65-hectare site will begin in the next few months and will include the construction of a golf course and other new facilities, South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin said on Tuesday.

Last week, officials of Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in Jakarta said they had set aside Rp 100 billion to make over the stadium and several surrounding sites.

But the Jakabaring project looks bigger in scope, prompting the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) to consider holding the opening ceremony in Palembang. The three other times the country hosted the SEA Games, all key events had been held in Jakarta.

“Besides a new golf course, we will also build a swimming pool, a shooting range, a synthetic track and an athletes’ village,” Alex said. “Out of the overall budget, Rp 250 billion will be used for the construction of a new golf course.”

Alex said the budget would come from “several investors,” but he did not identify them. “Several investors have pledged to help finance the project,” he said.

“We hope those facilities could lure more sport events to Palembang after the SEA Games,” Alex added.

The construction of Jakabaring began in January 2001 and was completed just before South Sumatra hosted the 2004 National Games. The centerpiece of the sports complex is Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium, home of Indonesian Super League club Sriwijaya FC.

Alex said part of the budget was upgrading the existing venues to meet international standards.

Jakabaring also has softball and baseball fields, wall-climbing facilities and a rowing center at Jakabaring Lake. It houses venues for gymnastics, badminton and squash competitions.

KOI official Abdul Rauf said Alex has proposed hosting the opening ceremony for the 2011 Games, but details of the regional tournament will still be discussed during the SEA Games Council meeting in Jakarta, in April. KOI said it planned to stage nine disciplines in Palembang.

Besides South Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java and Central Java are expected to hold events during the Games.



Antara, JG