Jakarta, Nov 23 (Antara) - Indonesia will host the 18th Asian Games for the second time next year after it had held the Asian sporting event for the first time in Jakarta in 1962.
Unlike the earlier events, the 2018 Asian Games will be held in two cities of Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra. This is the first time that the games will be held in two cities since it was first organized in New Delhi, India, in 1951.
Hence, Indonesia, the runner-up behind the overall champions Japan in 1962, will do its best as the host to make the sporting event a success and has set a target to finish among the top eight in the medals tally.
Since the first Asian Games in 1951, Japan had consecutively been the overall champion on eight occasions until 1978, but from 1982 to 2014, its position as the consecutive overall champion has been taken over by China that has won the Asian sporting event nine times in a row.
Indonesia, which has now taken over the task of hosting the 18th event from Hanoi, Vietnam, since the latter has delegated the responsibility to it due to financial reasons, will do its best to make the games a successful international event and has called for the public's support.
Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has appealed to the public to support and make the Asian Games a success.
"Next year, Indonesia will host the 18th Asian Games. This is an all Asian sporting festival, and we should be proud of hosting and supporting it," Pranowo noted during a morning walk and a blood donor function in Pati District, Central Java, on Wednesday (Nov 22).
He said Indonesian people, including those from Central Java, should be proud, as the country will be hosting the 2018 Asian Games.
According to the governor, the success of the event will depend not only on the success of the athletes but also on the full support of the people.
The same aspiration was also voiced by Muslim cleric Ahmad Mustofa Bisri, or popularly known as Gus Mus. He called on all sections of society to support and make the Asian sporting event a success.
"Let us echo (this commitment) and make the 18th Asian Games 2018 a success for Indonesia," Gus Mus remarked after receiving a visit of Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo at Pondok Pesantren Raudlatut Thalibin Leteh Boarding School, Rembang District, on Wednesday (Nov 22).
He pointed out that engaging in some form of sports makes the mind clear and keeps the body fit, so the people are called on to practice sports or workout in their day-to-day lives.
"All people should echo (the same commitment) and be passionate about supporting the 18th Asian Games 2018," Gus Mus said.
In the past, he said Indonesia had recorded a good performance at the Asian Games and is well-known globally. Muslims clerics have shown enthusiasm towards sports.
Hence, he added, the spirit of exercising through sports must continue to be maintained, and the Asian Games must be made a success.
To this end, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had held a meeting at the Bogor Palace, West Java, on Tuesday (Nov 21) with ministers and governors relevant to the events to discuss preparations for the Asian Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2, 2018.
State officials attending the meeting included Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Olahraga Imam Nahrawi, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and Presidential Staff Chief Teten Masduki.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin, and Head of the Creative Economy Agency Triawan Munaf also attended the meeting.
In terms of the preparations, the Public Works and Housing Ministry has expressed hope that it would be able to complete the construction of all Asian Games infrastructure by the end of 2017. The facilities could be used for holding test events of several branches of sports to be contested in Asia's largest sporting event.
The renovation of all facilities in Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) is 87.3 percent complete, according to a press release from the Public Works and Housing Ministry here on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in Palembang, the renovation and development of venues is almost complete in accordance with the schedule. Construction of the Jakabaring Sport City in Palembang and facilities has reached 92 percent completion.
Test events for the Asian Games 2018 are to be held on February 10-18, 2018, for sports, such as archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, football, martial arts, taekwondo, volleyball, and weightlifting.
"I am optimistic that all work at the GBK complex would be completed, and the facilities would be ready for the test events in February 2018," Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimulyono said.
According to a report released by the Task Force of Infrastructure for the Asian Games 2018 on November 21, 2017, the GBK main stadium would be completed earlier than schedule by the end of November 2017, adding that work was already 96.62 percent complete.
In December 2017, the training facility, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, medium stadium, basketball building, and softball and baseball fields will soon be completed. The hockey and archery fields as well as football and aquatic stadiums have been completed.
The ministry is also renovating the GBK complex to create a landscape, with greater quality.
Meanwhile, development of the JSC in Palembang and rowing facilities has reached 92 percent completion.
The public works and housing ministry has also built accommodation facilities for athletes in Kemayoran of Jakarta and Jakabaring in Palembang, which are now already over 99 percent complete.
Construction of the Jakarta International Equestrian Park is 89.77 percent complete.
***4***(A014/INE)EDITED BY INE(T.A014/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 23-11-2017 17:22: |
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