President Yudhoyono Sees off Independence Day Run

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono saw off participants of 17-km Independence Day Run 2014 at the premise of the State Palace here on Sunday. The President saw off the participants of the annual Independence Day event after a flag-hoisting ceremony at 6.10 a.m. The run event started from Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara in front of the Merdeka Palace. During the ceremony, the President was accompanied by First Lady Mrs Ani Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono and Mrs Herawati Boediono. The President and party also took part in the event and merged with the participants who had gathered in Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara since 5.0 a.m. A number of ministers were also seen accompanying the President. Among those were Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Roy suryo, Agriculture Minister Suswono, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik and the President's youngest son Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono. After having the run from the State Palace to Jln Thamrin, President Yudhoyono and Mrs Ani Yudhoyono greeted and fulfilled the request of the crowd at the Monas (National Monument) square to have pictures together. The run which was organized to celebrate the country's Independence Day was divided into two categories, namely the 17 kilometer run (17K) and the 8 kilometer run (8K). The 17K stretched from Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara in front of the State Palace through Jalan Thamrin, Jalan Jend Sudirman, Semanggi up to Jalan Sisingamangaraja and turned back through the same route up to the finish line at the Monas square. The 8K meanwhile took the route of Medan Merdeka Utara in front of the State Palace, Jalan MH Thamrin, Jalan Jend Sudirman and then turned back to the same route to finish at the Monas square. Chief organizer Aji Satrio said earlier that the committee will provide medals for 10,000 participants of the 8K category who reached the finish lines and for 1,000 participants of the 17K run who reached the finish lines. (*)