The one-year countdown ceremony to the 18th Asian Games certainly hit the target in Jakarta on Friday evening.
To mark the occasion at the National Monument in Merdeka Square, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Joko Widodo, showed his archery skills by firing an arrow into a target at the back of the performance stage to begin the countdown.
The President had arrived a few minutes earlier to a rapturous reception from the audience, and walked in front of the stage to the VIP stand where he greeted members of the Olympic Council of Asia Coordination Committee, led by the Chairman, Mr Tsunekazu Takeda.
The OCA was represented by the Vice President for East Asia, Mr Timothy Fok.
"The participation of His Excellency the President Mr Joko Widodo in the one-year countdown ceremony showed the commitment of the government of Indonesia to make a big success of next year’s Asian Games," said Mr Fok.
"It was a colourful and spectacular ceremony and set the scene for the next few months. We could witness the culture and traditions of Indonesia in the musical and dance performances and also the modern Indonesia in the pop music show and lighting.
"It was also good to see so many youngsters attending the ceremony, a new generation of sports fans for our Asian Games."
One of the highlights of the evening was a display of 300 multi-coloured drones, forming "Asian Games 2018" in the night sky and images of a torch relay runner lighting the cauldron, the OCA’s shining sun logo and the brand mark of the 18th Asian Games.
The OCA’s 18th Asian Games will take place in Jakarta and Palembang, capital of South Sumatra province, from August 18 to September 2, 2018. A countdown ceremony was held simultaneously at Palembang, at the Benteng Kuto Besak (Fort).
It will be the second time for Jakarta to host Asia’s biggest sports event, following the fourth Asian Games in 1962, and the first time the Asian Games will have co-host cities in the official title.
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