Jimbaran, Bali, 18-10-2008

Opening RemarksOn The Occasion of The Opening Ceremony of The First Asian Beach Games

 

OPENING REMARKS

HE DR. SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO
BY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING CEREMONY
OF THE FIRST ASIAN BEACH GAMES


BALI, INDONESIA, OCTOBER 18th 2008

<i>Bismillahirrahmannirrahim
Assalamu’alaikum Wr Wb </i>
HE Jacques ROGGE, IOC President,
HE Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, OCA President,
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Athletes from the participating Asian Countries,
Ladies and gentlemen,

GOOD EVENING

The Government and people of Indonesia join me in joyfully welcoming all of our guests to Indonesia, and to this island of Bali.

Bali is known as the “island of Paradise”, and has been voted many times as “the world’s most beautiful island”. It is a meeting place for peoples and cultures of the world. And it is home to a unique people that has tremendous respect for mother earth.

Bali is therefore the perfect place for the First Asian Beach Games. To Indonesians, the term “beach games” comes naturally to their sense. If you travel anywhere in this country, you will always see the sight of children playing happily by the beach : running, football, volleyball, martial arts, swimming, peddling, rowing, and boating. It is part of our way of life.

I therefore thank the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia for entrusting Indonesia to be the first host of the Asian Beach Games. I assure you, we have worked very hard to ensure the success of this great sporting event. And our people are very excited about it.

Dear friends,
You have come from all over Asia to compete here in Bali.

This is, indeed, a very special year for athletes. A few months ago, athletes from all nations came together in the Beijing Olympics. And what a marvelous event that was. Sporting records were broken, and the world of sports reached new heights. The world came as one, and billions of world citizens were inspired.

Your presence here is no different, and as glorious as what they did in the Beijing Olympics.

You are here to compete with the best of the best in beach sports. You are here to battle in the arena of sportsmanship and excellence.

And I hope you realize that you are also making history by becoming part of an international competition for a new breed of sports : beach sports !

And what magnificent games we have here: 17 branches of beach sports will be contested, covering 71 competitions, involving over 1,500 athletes from some 45 countries in Asia. We can already feel the adrenalin rushing !

I also wish to remind you of a larger picture.

By competing in a spirit of fair play, you are here to celebrate that precious thing called the brotherhood of man.

With all that is going on around the world – economic crisis, conflict, violence, poverty, disease, deprivation – what you do here will remind us that the spirit of man cannot be broken.

You remind us that life is worth fighting for, and we must reach out to one another.

And you remind us of the glory of our common humanity.

That is why I see this first Asian Beach Games as an agent to advance the harmony of civilizations. It is the antidote of “the clash of civilizations”, because it brings men and women, peoples, and nations even closer in a spirit of togetherness and mutual respect.

That simple message of hope is what you will project from the beaches of Bali to all of Asia and the rest of the world.

This first Asian Beach Games is also important in the way it highlights the rise of Asia. The 21st century, I am convinced, is the Asian century. More and more Asians will be brought to prosperity in this century. More and more Asian cultures will shape and drive and benefit from the growing labyrinth of globalization. And that Asian renaissance will be felt across all sector : in diplomacy, in economics, in technology, in arts, and of course, in sports.

And that is why I have every hope and confidence that this Asian Beach Games will grow and spread to reflect the dynamism and strength of Asian sportsmanship on the world stage.

Tonight, we will dine and entertain you. Tonight is all about fun, song and dance. So enjoy the evening. But not too much. Because the next few days, the hard work begins. You will compete with the best. You WILL be the best.

Some of you will win, and others may not. But I want you know, win or lose, in our hearts, and in the hearts of your loved ones at home in your country, you are all champions.

SO LET THE GAMES BEGIN ! LET THE GAMES BEGIN !

Finally, by saying Bismillahirrahmaanir-rahiim, I take great pleasure in declaring <b>THE FIRST ASIAN BEACH GAMES </b> open.

Enjoy the evening, and thank you.

BALI, OCTOBER 18th 2008