INDONESIAN CITIZENS IN BEIJING ATTEND FLAG RAISING CEREMONY

Beijing, Aug 17 (ANTARA) - Hundreds of members of Indonesian community, including the country's athletes participating in Beijing Olympic Games attended a flag raising ceremony at the Indonesian embassy here to mark the 63rd anniversary of independence on Sunday.

Also present in the ceremony were Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) chairperson Rita Subowo, Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) chairman Sutiyoso, Chief de Mission of Indonesian contingent Rosihan Arsyad, Indonesian athletes and officials.

"The ceremony this year is different from that of previous years because it was attended by Indonesian athletes and officials, participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Indonesian Ambassador to China, Sudrajat, said here on Sunday.

He said on the occasion, the Indonesian community in Beijing could take a few minutes of their time to greet and congratulate the athletes, especially badminton men's double players, Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan who grabbed a gold medal, and badminton woman's single, Maria Kristin who snatched bronze medal for Indonesia.