YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTER TO MEET RI BOYSCOUTS IN PHILIPPINES

Jakarta, Dec 30 (ANTARA) -- State Minister for Youths and Sports Andi A Mallarangeng Tuesday night left for Los Banos in the Philippines to meet the Indonesian boyscout contingent taking part in the 26th Asia-Pacific Jamboree.

"I will observe the Indonesian boy-scouts from close quarters while they are following the international jamboree in the Philippines and give them a motivation and boost their nationalist spirit," Andi Mallarangeng said in Bandung Tuesday.

Andi Mallarangeng was also slated to inspect the Indonesian boyscout contingent in the International Jamboree in Sydney, Australia, in nest year's first week.

"The Indonesian boyscout contingent will serve a national representatives and show their capabilities as Indonesian youths to their counterparts from other countries," he said.

He also said that in the international jamborees in the Philippines and Australia members of the Indonesian boyscout contingent will perform Indonesian arts and cultural shows including traditional dances, regional songs and attires, and specific Indonesian food and delicacies.

They will also actively take part in exchange of experiences with their counterparts from other countries.
"I hope that when they have returned to Indonesia members of the Indonesian boyscout contingent would share their experiences and what they had obtained while in the Philippines and Australia with other boyscouts in the country," he said.

Some 300 boyscouts from 14 provinces in Indonesia take part in the 26th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree 2009 in Los Banos from December 27, 2009 to January 3, 2010.

Another 61 boyscouts from Jakarta and West Java are taking part in the Subcamp 22nd Australian Scout Jamboree 2010 in Cataract Park, Sidney, New South Wales, Australia, January 4-14, 2010.

He said the participation of the Indonesian boyscouts in the international jamborees in the Philippines and Australia is expected would motivate other boyscouts to train more often and more seriously.

According to the Jakarta boyscout headquarters, the number of boyscouts had reached 568,636 spread to 6,871 fronts.