Published on January 8, 2015
The Capital City of Jakarta is preparing to establish an 11 hectares athletes’ complex in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta in connection with the international sport event ASIAN Games 2018, which Indonesia will host. The statement was made by Jakarta Governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama after a meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, 7th January 2015.
“ In this 11 hectares complex at Kemayoran we plan to build aquatic facilities, which are set to be completed by 2017” stated Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as Ahok.
According to the governor, the complex will be connected with supporting transportation to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, the Pluit Dam, the Kota Tua Old Batavia Complex, Ancol Resort, Kemayoran, Sunter, Kelapa Gading, and the neighboring city of Bekasi.
Meanwhile, Governor of South Sumatra, Alex Noordin explained that all sport facilities in Palembang are ready for the event.”We have proven it by the success of the 26th SEA Games in 2011, we are ready now, and actually do not need to wait for 2018,” added Governoor Noordin.
Meanwhile, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah expressed his optimism that Indonesia will successfully host this biggest sporting event in Asia. “Indonesia has successfully hosted a number of international sporting events such the 1962 ASIAN Games, SEA Games, the ASIAN Beach Games, and more. These wonderful memories would not have been possible without the full support of the leaders and all of the Indonesian people” stated Sheikh Ahmad after the meeting with President Joko Widodo accompanied by the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Imam Nahrawi, the head of Indonesia Sport Committee, Rita Subowo, the Governor of South Sumatra, Alex Noordin, and other officials, on Wednesday , 7th January 2015.
Indonesia was appointed on 19 September 2014 by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) as Host of the 2018 ASIAN Games, following the withdrawal of Vietnam. Previously, the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi was slated to host the 18th games, but it pulled out in April as Vietnam said that it could not financially sustain the cost of holding the games. While Indonesia has appointrd three provinces as joint Hosts for the 1918 Asian Games, namely: The Capital City of Jakarta, the provinces of South Sumatra,and West Java.
