Asian Games Torch Relay Parade leaves Tampaksiring Palace

Thousands of students and the public were seen carrying a red and white flag while calling for "Asian Games ... Asian Games ..." along the road through the 2018 Asian Games Torch Fire upon arrival in Denpasar, Bali. (Foto Antaranews Bali/Komang Suparta/wdy2018)

Gianyar (Antaranews Bali) - After being kept for a night at the Tampaksiring Palace in Gianyar District, Bali, the 2018 Asian Games Torch Relay headed to Denpasar on Tuesday morning.

Thousands of people in Gianyar witnessed the procession of the Asian Games torch from the Tampaksiring Palace to Denpasar, the center of the Bali provincial government administration.

"We are proud that the Asian Games torch was kept in Tampaksiring as a witness to history," Ayu Putri, a resident of Manukaya Village in Gianyar, stated on Tuesday.

Since 7 a.m. local time, thousands of people, including elementary and junior high school students, had lined up the street to witness the procession of the Asian Games Torch Relay.

The combined eternal flame from India and Mrapen Yogyakarta was handed over by Head of the Presidential Palace of Tampaksiring Dewa Gde Swarthana to Regent of Gianyar Ketut Rochineng.

Rochineng then participated by carrying the 18th Asian Games torch in a convoy heading to the Syafung Subak Tourism area in Denpasar.

The distance from Tampaksiring Palace in Gianyar Regency to the Subak ecotourism in Peguyangan, Denpasar, is some 32 kilometers.

The Asian Games Torch is planned to be welcomed by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya and will then be taken to the People`s Struggle Monument of Bali or Bajra Sandi in Renon, Denpasar.

The national torch relay of the largest multi-sport event, held every four years in Asia, began from Yogyakarta on July 18 and will end on Aug 17 in Jakarta, a day before the Asian Games 2018 to be officially opened by President Joko Widodo.

The torch relay will also pass through Probolinggo and Banyuwangi in East Java; Gilimanuk, Kuta, and Denpasar in Bali Province; Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara; Raja Ampat and Sorong in West Papua; Makassar in South Sulawesi; Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan; Banda Aceh in Aceh Province; Lake Toba in North Sumatra; Pekanbaru in Riau; Bukit Tinggi in West Sumatra; Jambi, Palembang, Banyuasin, and Prabumulih in South Sumatra; Bandar Lampung in Lampung; Serang in Banten; and Purwakarta, Bandung, Garut, Cianjur, and Bogor in West Java Province, among others. (WDY)