The Governor of South Sumatra province in Indonesia has reassured the Olympic Council of Asia that co-host city Palembang is highly motivated to stage a successful Asian Games in 2018.
Speaking at the sixth OCA Coordination Committee meeting on Sunday, Governor Alex Noerdin said: "We are not the biggest province and we are not the richest province, but we have the strongest motivation to make the 18th Asian Games a success.
"We are very honoured to be hosting the Asian Games in Jakabaring Sports City and we will convince all of you that all things and all infrastructure will be finished 100 per cent at the end of this year. I would like you to come back in January 2018 or December this year to see the work again."
The OCA’s 18th Asian Games will run from August 18 to September 2, 2018, in Jakarta and Palembang, which is the capital city of South Sumatra province and a one-hour flight from Jakarta.
Palembang, which hosted the South East Asian (SEA) Games in 2011, the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2013 and the ASEAN University Games in 2014, will organise 10 of the 42 sports on the 18th Asian Games programme: shooting, rowing, canoe/kayak, beach volleyball, tennis/soft tennis, triathlon, sport climbing, sepak takraw, bowling and women’s football.
On Sunday, the OCA Coordination Committee, led by the Chairman, Mr Tsunekazu Takeda of Japan, visited the Jakabaring Sports City and looked at the venues for shooting, triathlon, rowing and canoe/kayak.
Mr Takeda told the Coordination Committee meeting: "I saw the enthusiasm of the people to bring the Asian Games to a success. The preparations are on the right track and I trust that all the venues will be completed before the Games."
Later, in a press conference, Mr Takeda described Jakabaring as a "great sports complex". He added: "They are making wonderful preparations and the OCA is very happy and satisfied with what we have seen at Jakabaring today."
The Secretary for the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Gatot S. Dewabroto, added: "The energy and spirit of Palembang to host the Asian Games is very high. Palembang is well prepared and ready."
The sixth OCA Coordination Committee meeting will continue in Jakarta on Monday.
Caption: OCA Coordination Committee Chairman Mr Tsunekazu Takeda receives a welcome gift on his arrival at Palembang airport on Sunday morning.
Mr Takeda and OCA Coordination Committee members visit the rowing lake at Jakabaring Sports City in Palembang on Sunday.
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