TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 4th Worldwide Aquathon Day will be held simultaneously around the world, starting on Saturday, November 12, 2016. Up until Thursday, November 10, there have been around 79 countries—including Indonesia—that ensured their participation in the event. For at least three-hour non-stop, from 09:00 until 12:00 local time, the aquathon event—or water aerobic marathon—will be held at the same time in 240 locations around the world. This figure is expected to continue to rise until about November 12.
Water Exercise Therapy, or WET, an aquarobic club—water aerobic—based in Jakarta, is the organizer of this international water marathon event. “This is the second time. In 2015, WET also became the host of the 3rd World Aquathon,” said Damiana Dotty Widowati, the organizing chief of the 4th World Aquathon in Indonesia, who is also the founder of WET.
Sekolah Mentari (Mentari School), at Jalan Haji Jian 6, Cipete, South Jakarta, was chosen to be the location for the event. “In addition to the pool and supporting facilities that met the standards of Aquathon, its location is also strategic—it can be accessed from all direction.” said Sari Pribadi, an Executive Assistant. Along with Dotty, Sari and her team prepared the event for more than three months. “Our main goal is to support healthy lifestyle through a proper and good sport,” explained Dotty. Dotty is the holder of the certificate of the aquarobic international instructor. During the last five years, she actively develops aquarobic sport in Indonesia.
Estimated to be around 150 participants of all ages and backgrounds--whether those who are regular aquarobic practitioners or those who participate in the event for the first time--will all join to enliven the water marathon event. At least six active professional aquarobic instructors will guard the 4th World Aquathon. Among them are Damiana Dotty Widowati and Atie Hardjolukito. Atie, the founder of Mermaid Aquarobic Club , was a gold medalist in the 1970s National Sports Week event. For more than 16 years, she has been an instructor of aquarobic in Indonesia.
According to Atie, this kind of international aquarobic event is the perfect event to disseminate water aerobic to the general public. “The benefit of this sport is astounding, people just haven’t understand it yet,” said Atie. “As an instructor, we always put effort in introducing aquarobic through demonstration, practice, special event such as this one, and also through the media and doctors,” she added.
Indonesia is one of the 19 countries which participated in the 4th Worldwide Aquathon Day. From ASEAN countries, besides Indonesia, there are also Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
The international water marathon event started when a South African aquarobic instructor named Rose Hartzenberg is trying to expand the sport throughout the world by registering the Worldwide Aquathon Day in November 12 in 2009.
This water-based marathon could be done in a pool or in the sea—depending on the choice of the organizers in their own countries, respectively. Different from any other water sports, the aquarobic do not need someone to have the ability to swim and is open towards all ages.
Starting from children to elders, from water sports fans to people who are doing water sports for recovering their muscle injuries--the main strength of this sport—all could become aquarobic practitioners under the guide of a professional instructor. “The main cause of a muscle injury is faulty body movement done for years,” said Dotty. “A routine exercise will help restore balance to the body and muscle injury such as in knees and backs,” she asserted. She hoped that aquarobic could expand throughout Indonesia so that many people will know its benefits.
The 4th World Aquathon in Jakarta is held by WET, Sekolah Mentari , and also Brawijaya Hospital (RSIA), Jakarta. A number of doctors and medics from Brawijaya Hospital will give free health check-up during the aquathon event.
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