Minister Opens International Youth, Sports Festival

Serang (ANTARABanten) -  Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng  opened the 5th International Festival of Youth and Nautical Sports in Anyer, Serang, Banten, here Tuesday.

Andi said in his opening remarks the holding of the international festival in Indonesia showed  the Indonesian people's concern about nature due to its geographical location where the people mostly live on islands, surrounded by oceans.

"The seas are part of Indonesia's regional sovereignty where we  can do water sports," the minister said.

Moreover, he added, Indonesia had won the championship  of the  ASEAN Beach Games held in Bali recently.

"We are proud to live in a maritime country with all of its wealth and potentials which belong to us," Andi said.

Andi added the 5th International Festival of Youth and Nautical Sports was a means to promote beaches and tourism objects in Banten to people from  foreign countries and also to minimize issues around the  Mount Anak Krakatau's activity.

"We have to make the issue disappear by holding this International festival," said the former presidential spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah said the increased activity of Mount Anak Krakatau did not pose any danger to  people living around it, except if they came closer than 2 kilometers from the mountain.

"I hope this festival can promote the tourism objects of Banten province which has 501 kilometers of beach area," she said.

The festival which is participated in by 50 countries and 26 Indonesian provinces is being held at several beaches around Banten district, such as Pulorida, Anyer, Carita, Pulau Umang and Sawarna beaches.