Impacts of Borobudur Marathon

The public must be made aware of the various efforts to hold the Borobudur Marathon amid the Covid-19 pandemic, so the people realize that Indonesia is able to hold a running event in the midst of a pandemic.

KOMPAS/IWAN SETIYAWAN

Runners prepare at the starting line for the 2021 Bank Jateng Tilik Candi race at Lumbini Park. Borobudur Temple Tourism Park Complex, Magelang, Sunday (11/28/2021). A total of 128 runners took part in the half marathon race which is part of the 2021 Borobudur Marathon powered by Bank Jateng.

The 2021 Borobudur Marathon ended on Sunday (11/28/2021), with a number of innovations and adaptations as necessities amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The consortium that organized the Borobudur Marathon, which consisted of the Central Java provincial administration, the Borobudur Marathon Foundation, and Kompas daily, launched a number of innovations for the race, named "Borobudur Marathon Powered by Bank Jateng".

The first was a two-day race held from Saturday to Sunday (27-28/11). The special "Elite Race" for national runners on Saturday was exactly the same as that held in 2020. On Sunday, 128 runners selected by lot participated in the "Bank Jateng Tilik Candi" (Bang Jateng Observes Temple) race.

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Less than 150 people participated in the Tilik Candi race, in accordance with the direction of the executive board of the All-Indonesia Athletics Association (PB PASI), in line with the need for caution in carrying out activities in the midst of a pandemic.

While the Elite Race was held for the second year, the Tilik Candi race was held for the first time this year. This is why the majority of elite runners were already aware on the need to implement the health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19. A different situation occurred in the general running competition, with a number of problems emerging as regards the implementation of the health protocols. The health protocols are necessary and must be applied indiscriminately.

KOMPAS/Ferganata Indra Riatmoko

Female elite runner Odekta Elvina Naibaho (center) stands on the podium after winning the elite class marathon race Borobudur Marathon 2021 Powered by Bank Jateng at the Borobudur Temple complex, Magelang, Central Java, Saturday (27/11/2021).

The second innovation was none other than the publication of the book Borobudur Marathon Mewarnai Zaman (Borobudur Marathon: Coloring the Age), as part of efforts to document the history, endeavors, and future prospects of the running event. The book, which is dominated by photographs, is expected to inspire readers.

The third innovation concerned “Pawone”, a program involving traders around Borobudur who provided traditional foods and drinks at the race venue. The Pawone program was resumed this year, after it was halted in 2020 in response to the pandemic.

The resumption of the Pawone program also marked the comeback of community economic activities around Borobudur Temple, thanks to the general decline in Covid-19 cases. We all hope that the pandemic will be kept under control, so that the number of participants in the Borobudur Marathon and other competitive running events in the country will continue to grow and return to normal.

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It must be noted that as competitive races, the Borobudur Marathon and other running events are not just sports competitions. Such events also have other important aspects, such as promoting tourism through sports and helping to empower local economies as in the Pawone program.

The public must be made aware of the various efforts and hard work done to hold the Borobudur Marathon amid the Covid-19 pandemic, so the people realize that Indonesia is able to hold a running event in the midst of a pandemic. Indonesia can!

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.