Road to the 2012 London Olympics!

Summer Olympics

Did you know- By 1980, Indonesia -as Thailand, Singapore and other anti-Marxists states – boycotted the Summer Olympics in the Soviet Union. The 1980 Moscow Olympic was boycotted by the Indonesian rule, under the dictatorship of Suharto (1967-1998) in protest the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. Besides that, Jakarta had not diplomatic ties with the USSR. After this event, it competed in the next Olympics.

Badminton

Did you know- At the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing (People's Republic of China), the Olympic team of Indonesia finished 7th in the medal count, with 30 medals (3 gold, 6 silver, 21 bronze), behind China, South Korea, Japan, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan. After all those important results, Indonesia – a nation with about 15 percent of the world's Muslims– competed in the 25th Olympiad in Barcelona (Spain), where Alan Budi Kusama and Susi Susanti, both national heroes in Jakarta (the capital city of Indonesia ), won gold medals in badminton, one of the most popular sports in Southeast Asia, together with football and sepak takraw. In Europe, the Asian nation placed 24th in the medal count. Four years later, at the 1996 Atlanta Games, Indonesia took 41st place in the unofficial team championships. Once again, the country earned medals in badminton: Rey Mainaky and Ricky Subagja won the Olympic title in the men's doubles.

Asian Games

Did you know- By the mid-1960s, Indonesia won the right to host the V Asian Games. For political reasons, the country's dictator Achmed Sukarno refused to allow Israel and Taiwan to compete in the Asian Games.

Volleyball

Did you know- In the FIVB World Tournament in the early 1980s, the women's volleyball team had a tough championship: On September 13, 1982 Peru -the host nation's team– beat Indonesia 3-0 (15-2, 15-0, 15-3). In the next day, Indonesia lost 3-0 (15-2, 15-7, 15-6) to Canada. Subsequently, Indonesia defeated Nigeria (African champion) 3-0 (15-8, 15-6, 15-7). Finally, Indonesia beat Chile 3-2 and came in 21st place out of 23 teams. It was the first time the national team had participated at the FIVB World Championships.

Football

Did you know- By the late 1950s, the host country's team finished third place, after Taiwan and South Korea, in the Asian Games of Jakarta. It was the first time the national team had won a medal.

2008 Beijing Olympics

Did you know- At the 2008 Summer Olympics in the People's Republic of China, the Indonesian team finished 42nd in the medal count, with five medals (1 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze). The Asian nation had sent 24 champs to Beijing.