INDONESIA HOPES TO EMULATE ASIAD SUCCESS IN ASIAN PARA GAMES by Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 29 (Antara) -    Many international media and several world leaders lauded the smooth and well-organized implementation of the 18th Asian Games held simultaneously in two cities, namely in Jakarta on western Java Island and Palembang in South Sumatra, from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018.

          Indonesia successfully held spectacular opening and closing ceremonies of the Asian Games. Most importantly, the Games were organized smoothly without any serious problems, including in terms of security.

           The sport fiesta does not stop with the Asiad 2018 alone as it will be followed by the third Asian Para Games, which will take place in Jakarta from Oct 6 to 13, 2018.

          The Indonesian government hopes to emulate the success achieved during the Asian Games in the upcoming largest multi-sport event for athletes with disability in Asia.

          One of the many factors that make the Asiad a successful event is the support from the public. Therefore, the government has been intensifying the promotion of the Asian Para Games 2018 to make the public aware of it.

         Head of the Indonesia Asian Para Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INAPGOC), Raja Sapta Oktohari, recently reported to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), during a closed-door meeting at the Bogor Presidential Palace, that the preparations for the implementation of the event were nearly complete.

        Jokowi told ministers and institutions to treat the second-largest multi-sporting event for the disabled after the Paralympic Games and the Asian Games.

        National athletes who win medals at the event will also receive bonuses similar to the Asian Games 2018 medalists. The government hopes that Indonesia will not only succeed in organizing the Games but also emulate success in the medal tally.

         Indonesia hopes its rank will increase from the top nine to top seven, with 16-19 medals from 18 sports events. 
    At the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea, Indonesia ranked ninth with 9 gold medals, 11 silver, and 18 bronze medals.

            In the medal tally of the Asian Games 2018, the host country finished fourth following China, Japan, and South Korea, with 31 gold medals, 24 silvers, and 43 bronzes, respectively, a significant improvement from the 17th position in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, with four gold medals.

         Meanwhile, preparations for the implementation of the third Asian Para Games has reached 95 percent completion, according to Bayu Rahadian, secretary general of the INAPGOC 2018.

            Finishing touches to the venues and software installation were ongoing, he revealed here on Wednesday.

            The finishing touches focused on offering smoother accessibility for people with disabilities to sport arenas, accommodation, and dressing rooms.

          The Asian Para Games will involve some five thousand athletes and officials, with 1.1 thousand of them on wheelchairs, from 41 countries, eight thousand volunteers, five thousand field operators, and 800 national, as well as international journalists.

         According to Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, the event will be held at the Bung Karno Main Stadium, JIExpo Kemayoran, in Jakarta and Sentul circuit, which is located in the outskirts of Jakarta.

         Eight of the venues within the GBK complex include the Basketball Hall, the shooting range, the GBK main stadium, Tennis Indoor, aquatic pool, archery field, hockey field, and Istora Senayan.

          Eleven others are at Cempaka Putih Sports Hall (Crntral Jakarta), JI Expo Kemayoran (Central Jakarta), velodrome (East Jakarta), GOR POPKI (East Jakarta), Balai Kartini (South Jakarta), Balai Sudirman (South Jakarta), Econvention Ancol (North Jakarta), Jaya Ancol Bowling Center (North Jakarta), and Sentul International Circuit (Bogor, West Java).

          As many as 18 sports to be competed in the event include basketball, volleyball, fencing, table tennis, swimming, shooting, judo, cycling, chess, weight lifting, bowling, goal ball, badminton, running, archery, boccia, handball, and tennis.

         The INAPGOC has opened the online ticket sales for the multi-sporting event since Sept 18, 2018.

         "We sold the ticket for the opening ceremony at Rp500 thousand, Rp750 thousand, Rp1.5 million, and Rp2.5 million. We limit the selling to maximum four tickets per buyer," Oktohari remarked.

        In addition to the ticket for the opening ceremony, the committee has sold tickets for venue entry at Rp10 thousand, ticket for one sport branch at Rp25 thousand, ticket for full-day competitions at Rp100 thousand, and for six-day competitions at Rp200 thousand.

        Free tickets, however, will be distributed to persons with disabilities in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Bekasi, and Tangerang to allow them to support the Indonesian athletes in the competition.

         The Asian Para Games opening ceremony would bring the theme of morality and humanity, which would also be enlivened by performance by the disabled. ***4***