Indonesia's Batam to host Ruggedian Asia Obstacle Run

JAKARTA - Indonesia's neighboring territory to Singapore, Batam, will host a 3-day international mass run competition of Ruggedian Asia Obstacle Race in tourism zone of Nongsa, slated for April 27 to 29 next year.

The competition, to be jointly organized by Batam's Nongsa resorts and Singapore sport organizer agency of Asian Sports Group, would highlight a fun run activities that can be participated by people from all ages and gender.

"The race has unique concept as it would allow anyone, doesn't have to be a professional athlete, to win a big competition," Anddy Fong, the race co-organizer said in a recent statement.

He added that the mass running race would also promote healthy life style for the people, expected to be contended by people from Batam and those from neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.

Hailing the planned sport tourism event, Indonesia Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that it would further accelerate tourism in the area designated as part of Indonesia's destination centers.

Sport tourism has been extensively used to further boost arrival of foreign tourists to Indonesia so as to prosper areas hosting the event and help the government in coping with tourism targets.