OCA Opens Representative Office in Jakarta

The Olympic Council of Asia held an Inauguration Ceremony for its representative office in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Tuesday evening.

The office will assist in the smooth preparations for the OCA’s 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang in 2018 by providing a daily communications and operations hub between the organising committee INASGOC, the Indonesian Olympic Committee and the OCA.

The Director General of the OCA, Mr Husain Al Musallam, said: "This new office will definitely add value for the Olympic Movement in Asia and especially for the Asian Games in 2018 with close coordination with the organising committee.

"The inauguration of this representative office is a special occasion and will be a very positive step to show the cooperation between the OCA and the organising committee of the 18th Asian Games."

Mr Al Musallam said that the new office followed the strategic roadmap approved at the OCA General Assembly in Vietnam last September, when the OCA decided to open a series of offices in all five zones of the continent.

"The OCA has learned from past experiences how to have smooth continuation in our work and in our preparations for the youth and the Olympic Movement," he added.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the OCA’s Hon. Life Vice President, Mr Wei Jizhong, said it was a very significant moment for the OCA and Jakarta.

"The preparations for the Asian Games are going smoothly, so we need close cooperation and close communication," said Mr Wei.

The OCA representative office is located at Plaza Asia in the Senayan district of the capital, close to the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex – the focal point of the 18th Asian Games.

It will be under the control of the OCA Vice President in charge of the 18th Asian Games, Mrs Rita Subowo, who said the Indonesian Olympic Committee and government had enjoyed close cooperation with the OCA since hosting the inaugural Asian Beach Games at Bali in 2008.

"Hopefully, after the Asian Games in 2018, Indonesia will be able to go to the next step – the World Beach Games and, who knows, the Olympic Games," said Mrs Subowo.

On behalf of the government, Deputy IV of the Ministry for Youth and Sport, Gatot S. Dewa Broto, thanked Mrs Subowo for providing the office space and said it would lead to more intensive cooperation with less than one and a half years to go until the 18th Asiad, which will run from August 18 to September 2, 2018.

A tour of the offices followed the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a press conference brought the inauguration to a close.

Speaking at the press conference, Indonesian Olympic Committee and INASGOC President Erick Thohir said the new office showed the commitment of the OCA to the success of the Asian Games.

He also looked ahead to the 5th OCA Coordination Committee on Wednesday, when OCA representatives will meet with three ministers from key government departments on the sidelines of the meeting.

The Indonesian officials also included Imam S. Ernawi, Chairman of the Infrastructure Taskforce for the 18th Asian Games, and Ahmad Najib, Assistant Governor of South Sumatra, of which co-host city Palembang is the capital.

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