OCA Press Release: Asian Games 2018 preparations 'on track', government minister tells OCA

Jakarta, Indonesia, December 15, 2016: Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Mrs Puan Maharani, addressed the 5th OCA Coordination Committee meeting at the Mulia Hotel, Jakarta, on Wednesday morning.

Mrs Maharani told the committee that the preparations for the OCA’s 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang in August-September 2018 were on track, and she thanked the OCA for all their cooperation and guidance.

She explained that the renovation of venues at the main sports hub of the 18th Asiad – the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in downtown Senayan – would be completed by October 2017, and all work at the co-host city of Palembang, capital of South Sumatra, would be finished by the end of next year.

The main Athletes’ Village at Kemayoran is set to be completed by June 2017, while the smaller village at Palembang will be completed this month.

The complete reconstruction of the velodrome in Jakarta is expected to be finished by June 2018, while the extensive development of the equestrian centre will be completed by December 2017.

"The government is prepared and already is doing everything on track," she said.

"The government, the Indonesian Olympic Committee, the organising committee INASGOC and the people of Indonesia are working together for the success of the Asian Games."

The meeting was opened by the President of the Indonesian Olympic Committee and Chairman of INASGOC, Mr Erick Thohir. He said that "significant progress" had been made since the 4th OCA Coordination Committee meeting in May, and the presence of ministers and representatives from the central government, city government and provincial governments showed the determination of Indonesia to make the Asian Games a success for the country.

The Chairman of the OCA Coordination Committee, Mr Tsunekazu Takeda of Japan, pointed out to the local officials that "the attention surrounding the Asian Games is huge."

He added: "It is not only a showcase for the OCA as a leader in the Olympic Movement but it also presents your beautiful country Indonesia to the world. The Asian Games is not only about sport that brings excitement, friendship and solidarity; it will bring many more things like boosting interaction, promote a healthy lifestyle and create a sports culture. It will bring self-confidence and raise self-esteem."

The Minister of Public Works and Housing, Mr Basuki Hadi Mulyono, gave a detailed presentation on the renovation of 11 venues within the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex and Athletes’ Village at Kemayoran. He told the delegates that all construction work would be completed in time for a series of test events in October and November 2017.

The meeting discussed the sports programme, which has been finalised at 41 sports, the appointment of Technical Delegates for the sports disciplines, security, transportation, IT, hospitality, accreditation and media and broadcasting.

Summing up the meeting at a press conference, Chairman Takeda said: "We are very happy with the progress since the last Coordination Committee meeting, especially the sports venues and also the Athletes’ Village. It is going smoothly and should be completed before the test events."

Mr Takeda said the number of events, sport by sport, would be decided in the near future to reduce it from a provisional number of around 500.

*The 6th OCA Coordination Committee meeting will be held in Palembang, South Sumatra, from March 5-7, 2017, and will be preceded by the first meeting of Technical Delegates from March 2-4.

*The OCA’s 18th Asian Games will take place in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, from August 18 to September 2, 2018, with 10,000 athletes and 5,000 team officials from the OCA’s 45 National Olympic Committees. There will be three venue clusters in Jakarta plus the Jakabaring Sports City in Palembang.

*A venue tour of the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex, Athletes’ Village at Kemayoran, equestrian centre and velodrome followed the meeting.

Captions: Joining forces at the post-meeting press conference

Image

OCA Coordination Committee members on the venue tour

Image

END

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only