August 3, 2022
JAKARTA – Eleven swimmers at the ASEAN Para Games (APG), which are being held in Central Java, have contracted COVID-19, Governor Ganjar Pranowo said on Tuesday. “One athlete is being treated in the hospital, the others are isolating […] in Semarang,” Ganjar told reporters on the sidelines of a swimming event. The governor said he had ordered Semarang city health officials to continue supervising and monitoring their conditions.
“In general their conditions are improving,” Ganjar said. He said it was likely that the athletes, some of them from other countries, became infected on their way to the games without specifying the athletes’ nationalities. The APG opened on Saturday with a ceremony that included a fireworks display and cultural and musical performances in Surakarta. The Games were officially opened by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, and will be held until Aug. 6. A total of 1,248 athletes are participating in the Games, competing in 924 events for a total of 453 medals.
The 2019 edition in the Philippines was initially postponed for financial reasons before being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Viet Nam also cited the pandemic in canceling the Games last year. Indonesia stepped in to host the event for the second time after the 2011 edition, which was also held in Surakarta. (dre)