The Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, Mr Husain Al Musallam, is looking forward to a high-tech Asian Games in Indonesia in 2018 – and a games that will leave a lasting legacy for co-host cities Jakarta and Palembang.
Speaking after the 5th OCA Coordination Committee meeting at the Mulia Hotel in Jakarta on Wednesday, Mr Al Musallam said the OCA’s 18th Asian Games would contribute to the development of the country in general.
"We have had a very successful meeting and received firm assurances from three leading ministries in the central government that Indonesia fully supports the 18th Asian Games in 2018," said Mr Al Musallam.
"The government showed a high level of commitment to secure the success of the Asian Games. Three high-level ministries - finance, public works and human development and culture - gave their assurance and, moreover, their support of the citizens of Indonesia and the parliament, especially since it will be 56 years since Jakarta last hosted our Asian Games in 1962."
Mr Al Musallam said the OCA expected a high-tech Asian Games due to the new technology available in 2018, as well as an event that will leave a strong legacy.
"We can see the Asian Games integrate with the city of Jakarta with a new airport terminal, a new ring road and Mass Railway Transport system. In addition to this, all the sports venues in Jakarta and Palembang are being renewed to the highest levels of the International Federations," he said.
"The OCA expects 11,000 athletes to participate in the 18th Asian Games and 5,500 team officials – a total of 16,500 participants from our National Olympic Committees.
"The volunteer programme will start soon and produce 40,000 volunteers to be on duty during the Games.
"We are confident that Indonesia has the manpower, technology and experience to organise a successful Asian Games, and we will emphasise how to put all this together for a more international look."
The OCA Director General summed up a number of points from the 5th OCA CC meeting:
SPORTS PROGRAMME
We have finalised 41 sports with the option of finding a solution for surfing, which will be in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The OCA wants to prepare the Asian surfers to be ready in terms of experience and to improve their level. We are studying minor technical issues with the International Surfing Federation and organising committee, especially concerning the venue and logistics involved.
HOST BROADCASTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TIMING
We are at an advanced stage and soon the contracts will be signed for all three elements which are very important for the success of the Asian Games.
TRANSPORTATION
We are satisfied overall, but there is still a worry about traffic because 20 million people are on the move every day in Jakarta city.
ATHLETES’ VILLAGE
The work has already started and in both cities, Jakarta and Palembang, and will be finished at the end of 2017.
VENUES
The competition venues in Palembang are already there and are ready. In Jakarta they are in progress and the target will be November 2017. The test events are set for November 2017.
AIRPORT
The new terminal at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Jakarta has been completed and will be in operation soon. The OCA is satisfied with the air traffic control plan during the Asian Games as Jakarta is a very busy airport with 50 million passengers every year.
HIGHWAY AND MRT
The new Jakarta ring road and highway has been completed and work is in progress on the Mass Railway Transport line connecting the airport to the Athletes’ Village at Kemayoran. We expect this service to be completed by March 2018.
PALEMBANG
The co-host city – capital of South Sumatra – already has an Athletes’ Village and the expansion work is nearly complete. The roads are complete, the venues are complete. The organising committee will provide a certain number of free air flights to National Olympic Committees who have teams there on a daily basis during the games for the Chef de Mission and other officials.
JET SKI AND PARAGLIDING
The organising committee has confirmed that they will shoulder the cost of all the equipment internationally and locally for all participants.
*The OCA’s 18th Asian Games will run from August 18 to September 2, 2018.
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