There are those who call 2018 a political year, but also a sports year. Both have the spirit of sportsmanship.
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Kompas/Rony Ariyanto Nugroho
A sea of people watch the fireworks show on New Year’s Day at the National Monument in Jakarta, Monday (1/1).
We have explored the year 2018. There are those who call 2018 a political year, but also a sports year. Both have the spirit of sportsmanship.
In the middle of this year, Jakarta and Palembang will be in the international spotlight. Millions of pairs of eyes will watch how Indonesia will host the 18th Asian Games. Being a host is a rare opportunity. Jakarta last hosted the Asian Games in 1962. The Asian Games will take place on Aug. 18 - Sept. 2, 2018 and see the participation of 45 Asian countries and about 15,000 athletes.
Before the Asian Games, the world’s citizens will be enchanted by the notable event of the World Cup in Russia on June 14 to July 15, 2018. Even though Indonesia will not take part in the World Cup, football remains a favorite sport for many Indonesians. Football is expected to help ease political tensions.
Amidst these sporting events, Indonesia will also enter a season of political contestation, namely the election of regional heads in 191 regions and the stages leading up to the 2019 presidential elections. If all run according to schedule, the regional elections will take place in June 2018 and the registration of presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates on Aug. 4-10.
The two events will make the year 2018 highly interesting. There will be the regional elections, which demands a spirit of competition, the spirit among candidates to compete in their democratic programs and ideas. Two months later, the nation’s energy of the has to be united again to succeed in hosting the Asian Games. The Asian Games is an opportunity for us all to show that Indonesia is a big nation that is able to host an Asian sports party.
Kompas/Priyombodo
A promotional signboard for the 2018 Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang is on display on Friday night (3/11) along the Jl. Sudirman thoroughfare in Semanggi, Central Jakarta. The government is racing against time to prepare facilities for the Asian Games, which will be co-hosted by the capital and Palembang.
The Asian Games will become an opportunity to show Indonesia among the ranks of the world’s nations. Its progress in economy, technology, sports, people\'s hospitality and democratic maturity, deserve to be shown on the world stage, seen through millions of eyes.
The spirit of sports is to compete fairly and with sportsmanship. Sportsmanship will also be relevant in the regional elections on June 27. There is no need for campaigns that destroy the spirit of unity, and there is no need to be involved in excessive defeat in the regional elections. The election results have to be accepted with sportsmanship. Referees are of course required to be neutral and independent.
After the regional elections, it will be time to unite the energy of the nation for the success of the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang. We are confident that with the people\'s maturity in democracy, the regional elections and the early stages of the presidential election will strengthen the spirit of unity to succeed in the Asian Games that follows in a matter of days, and encourage our democracy to mature further.
