OCA Sets Limit on Sports and Events for 18th Asian Games

The Olympic Council of Asia has announced the maximum number of sports and events for the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, in 2018.

Speaking after the sixth meeting of the OCA Coordination Committee for the 18th Asian Games at the Fairmont Hotel on Monday, the Committee Chairman, Mr Tsunekazu Takeda, informed a press conference of the key decision.

"Today we finalised the number of sports at 42 and the number of events at 484," said Mr Takeda, IOC Member and President of the Japanese Olympic Committee.

"This is the maximum number of sports and events, and neither figure will be increased. The number may be reduced and we will check again in one month."

Mr Takeda added: "Overall the OCA is very satisfied with the result of this meeting and I am confident the Asian Games in 2018 will be a great success."

The OCA’s Director General, Mr Husain Al Musallam, said cricket, paragliding and jetski may still be dropped from the sports programme, depending on a number of issues concerning the relevant Asian Sports Federations.

The 18th Asian Games will be held in Jakarta and Palembang – capital of South Sumatra province – from August 18 to September 2, 2018. Of the 42 sports, Palembang will host 10 at Jakabaring Sports City.

Mr Al Musallam told the media that the sixth OCA Coordination Committee meeting had witnessed progress in Palembang and that work was continuing at a good pace in Jakarta.

However, he stressed that the construction of all new venues must be approved by the relevant sports authorities on technical requirements, as well as TV and host broadcaster demands on lighting, sound and LED screens.

"The most important thing is the coordination between the different departments," said Mr Al Musallam.

"Indonesia last organised the Asian Games in 1962 and there have been big changes in sport since then. Indonesia needs to upgrade all sports infrastructure and city infrastructure, and what the OCA needs to see is more coordination between the different departments."

The Honorary Life Vice President of the OCA, Mr Wei Jizhong, told the media that everything was "going smoothly" and that he was confident that all the technical requirements and international standards would be incorporated into the venues.

The meeting, which began in Palembang on Sunday and continued in Jakarta on Monday, also heard presentations on marketing, TV and broadcasting, medical and anti-doping, the torch relay, games promotion, volunteers and protocol.

Between 10,000 and 15,000 volunteers will be recruited, and the opening and closing ceremonies at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in downtown Senayan will feature around 10,000 performers, the committee members heard.

A series of test events in 10 sports will be conducted in Jakarta this October and November, but all sports on the programme will be tested in the relevant venue in good time for the start of the Asian Games in 17 months’ time.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Mr Basuki Hadi Moeljono, assured the OCA that all renovation work at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex and the construction of the Athletes’ Village at Kemayoran would be completed by October, under the supervision of the President of the Republic, HE Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

"This work is under the full attention of the President," the Minister said. "The President visited GBK and Kemayoran on December 2 and again on February 26. Every two months we visit the work of the Asian Games infrastructure development, and with this plan it will be finished on schedule."

*The OCA and 2018 Asian Games organising committee INASGOC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese sports suppliers 361 to provide the uniforms for the workforce, and a full contract with Korean IT sports specialists SsangYong Information and Communications Corp.

INASGOC was represented by the Chairman, Mr Erick Thohir, and the OCA by Director General Mr Husain Al Musallam.

Brand General Manager Jun Ling represented 361, and Chief Executive Officer Kim Chang Ki signed on behalf of SsangYong.

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