Apart from the general public, 25,300 students will support Indonesian athletes during the 2018 Asian Games. They have been preparing for three months, including learning how to celebrate victories without disparaging opponents.
By
IRENE SARWINDANINGRUM
·5 minutes read
Apart from the general public, 25,300 students will support Indonesian athletes during the 2018 Asian Games. They have been preparing for three months, including learning how to celebrate victories without disparaging opponents.
Rahma Mutia and Azahra Kinanti, both 17, said they could not wait for the archery event to start. Rahma has purchased a large hat shaped like Atung, one of the three mascots of the 2018 Asian Games. She said she would wear the hat and support Indonesian athletes at the Asian Games archery event in the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex’s archery field in Jakarta on Monday (27/8/2018).
“I will be in awe of the female athletes during the event,” said the culinary arts student at SMKN 30 Jakarta state vocational school in Jakarta on Monday (13/8).
Rahma said she never thought her school would choose her to be an Asian Games supporter. As a sports fan, she could not hide her joy.
Azahra, Rahma’s schoolmate, said she had saved her energy so she could shout her heart out in support of Indonesian athletes during the Games. For the 12th grader, becoming a supporter means getting her lungs ready to shout her support for local athletes in the sports arenas.
“I am so happy I can watch athletes from many countries compete. I have free entries. This is a chance of a lifetime,” she said.
Rahma and Azahra are two of 75 students of SMKN 30 Jakarta that will support athletes at the Asian Games. The 75 students are split into two groups: 27 students will watch archery on Aug. 27 and the other 48 will watch hockey games on Aug. 28 and 29.
SMKN 30 Jakarta deputy principal of student affairs Subiyantoro said that he would accompany the students at the Games. As official supporters, the students will get free buses, tickets, souvenirs and thundersticks. During the Games events, students must wear their schools’ sports uniforms.
Other than in SMKN 30, similar preparations are seen in 129 other schools throughout the capital. In total, 25,300 students in Jakarta are being prepared to serve as supporters. Middle schools and high schools located near sports venues are involved in the program. Students were selected and only those deemed physically fit and having good character can become supporters.
Training
Before attending the Asian Games events, the students were trained by their respective schools on how to be good supporters. They learnt how to behave at the sports arenas, such as not to jeer at opponents during the events. Supporters should also remain polite while celebrating victories or accepting defeats.
“They must show that Indonesia is a polite and dignified nation in an international competition,” said Waluyo Hadi, the Jakarta Education Agency’s School Coordinator for the Asian Games.
Mentors at each school are also urged to guide their students while attending sports events. Among the things the agency is anticipating is the inclusion of political materials in the sports events.
Waluyo said he had reminded all mentors not to being political gears into the sports arenas. He said that it would be improper to use the sports events to deliver political statements despite the country holding an election next year.
Much like athletes, supporters have the noble duty of maintaining the nation’s dignity. Supporters’ blazing spirit will help athletes give their best for the nation.
Unsurprisingly, the students are now focused on being the best supporters. “While they are serving as supporters, they are relieved from all school tasks,” Waluyo said.
20 sports prioritized
The students will be deployed on 20 sports where Indonesia is expected to win medals, including synchronized swimming, archery, athletics, boxing, gymnastics, volley ball and wushu.
In order to support the plan, the Jakarta administration will prepare 121 35-seat buses to transport the students. Five of the buses are brand new while the other are commonly used for students’ daily transport between their neighborhoods and schools.
The supporters’ transportation is carefully prepared to ensure smoothness. A database of the buses’ numbers and license plate numbers, as well as the names and contact number of drivers and driver assistants is distributed to relevant officers. During sports events, the buses await near the arenas. After the events, the buses would transport the students back to school.
The number of students deployed at sports arenas depends on the arenas’ capacity and the quota given by the organizing committee, which ranges from eight to 2,400 students per sporting event. On average, the quota is 20 percent of the arena’s total capacity. Squash has the lowest number of supporters while athletics has the most.
Simulations were held to ensure smooth large-scale movements of supporters towards Asian Games venues at the same time. Jakarta Transportation Agency deputy head Sigit Wijatmoko said that he was convinced that everything would run well. Drivers and driver assistants were also prepared to support the plan.
Supporters serve as the 12th player on the soccer team. Their thunderous claps, cheers and yells boost athletes’ spirit. The supporters’ fighting spirit must not be underestimated.