Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana earlier had arrived at Muliaraja Napitupulu Port in Lake Toba, Balige, North Sumatra, Sunday, to watch the 2023 F1 Powerboat (F1H2O) World Championship.
Before heading to the spectators' podium, Jokowi was greeted by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali, and President of F1H2O Nicola di San Germano.
At the podium, Jokowi and Iriana witnessed the preparations of the powerboats, which were being lifted using a crane, and would be used for racing in Lake Toba. In addition, singer Lea Simanjuntak was seen enlivening the crowds from the entertainment stage.
The F1H2O World Championship is a flagship international race series of single-seater sport boats held by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM). F1H2O this time was joined by 10 teams with a total of 20 racers.
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There are eight racing series in one season of championship, with the first being held in Lake Toba, Indonesia in 2023. China will hold the next race series after Indonesia. President Jokowi also greeted and took a picture together with the F1H20 racers.
Some high officials were also present at the race, among others, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman Bambang Soesatyo, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno, and North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi.
In addition, the UAE Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdulla Salem Al-Daheri, also attended the event. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy earlier had invited many people to watch the race together from The Kaldera Toba, Ajibata, North Sumatra.
"The (watch-together) activity initiated by the Lake Toba Authority (BPDOT) aims to accommodate people around the Lake Toba area who want to watch F1 Powerboat, but cannot enter the Balige area," Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said on Saturday (February 25).
