PALEMBANG – On 10 December, 2014, the 17th edition of the ASEAN University Games kicked-off. The splendid Opening Ceremony was staged at the main stadium of Jakabaring Sport Center in Palembang, South Sumatera, Indonesia.
The ASEAN University Games (AUG) is a biennial sports event, which involves athletes from the universities of 10 plus 1 ASEAN members countries, with Timor Leste as the associate member. For this edition of AUG, 2,500 participants were registered. The student-athletes will compete in 18 sport events in the following 12 days from 10 to 21 December, chasing for 252 medal sets of gold, silver and bronze. AUG is a platform for young athletes to reach harmony between their academic experiences and sportsmanship experiences and a chance for diversity to become unity, just like the slogan “One Heart, One ASEAN”.
With the AUG traditions, the Opening Ceremony started with the marching pass of the delegations, followed the hoisting of the AUG flag, the athlete’s oath and judge’s oath. During the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Haji Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia; Prof. Dr. Anuar Bin Hasan, AUSC (ASEAN University Sports Council) President; M. Nasir, Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education; Imam Nachrawi, Minister of Sports and Youth; Mr. Haji Alex Noerdin, Governor of South Sumatera; Kenny CHOW, AUSF Secretary-General were present.
The AUG flame is a symbol of the fighting spirit. The torch of 17th AUG 2014 was passed by Peraih Medali Emas Pencak Silat from the 16th AUG in Laos (2012) and Perail Juara from the 1st Friendly Games in Myanmar (2013) and handed over to the Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia, who ignited the main torch.
The ceremony came to an end, followed by a fantastic show, performed by the students from the local universities and famous Indonesian pop singers.
For more details, you can also visit the official website of the 17th AUG.
(Source: AUSF Secretariat)