TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said his side was preparing to hold this year’s Borobudur Marathon virtually. The annual running competition usually kicks off in the temple complex.

[We will] hold the marathon by adopting a hybrid method. Some runners will join the live event, yet the number is limited to 30-50 participants, and the rest will join it online,” said Ganjar in an Instagram Live event of Tempodotco on Monday, July 27.

The idea of holding a virtual run was adopted from similar events held in several cities in the world, such as Berlin and Boston. The organizing committee, Ganjar added, would develop a special application for participants.

Runners could simultaneously join the event at their respective places. The event’s jerseys and medals would be given by the committee, he said.

Additionally, Ganjar claimed his side was re-designing the annual tourism agenda dubbed Tour de Borobudur, which is a tour involving cyclists. The event will still be held yet only 30-50 participants are allowed.

To accommodate the high interest of participants, Ganjar Pranowo said the provincial government planned to hold it gradually or at every weekend starting mid-August until the end of 2020.

Central Java has started to reactivate its tourism sector following months-long COVID-19 closure. As many as 224 out of 690 tourist destinations have been reopened as of July 17 under the strict health protocols.

Read also: 300 Foreign Runners Join Borobudur Marathon: Organizer

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA