Upholding Nation’s Dignity

Ensuring the success of the 2018 Asian Games from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2, is the responsibility of not just the government, but also the people. All Indonesians are urged to uphold the nation’s dignity by giving their warmest welcome to the international delegates.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Ensuring the success of the 2018 Asian Games that will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2, is the responsibility of not just the government, but also the people. All Indonesians are urged to uphold the nation’s dignity by giving their warmest welcome to the international delegates.

“People should maintain cleanliness and public order, and keep smiling. Wear your best clothes and extend a warm welcome to all our guests,” Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Tuesday (14/8/2018) afternoon after inspecting several venues at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Indonesia 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) chair Erick Thohir and Inasgoc deputy chair Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin accompanied Kalla in testing the entrance gates to the gallery. The trio also watched a basketball game between Hong Kong and Qatar in GBK Basketball Hall A.

Kalla also visited the International Broadcasting Center at the Jakarta Convention Center. He inspected each piece of equipment Inasgoc had prepared, including computers and the internet connection, as well as snacks for international reporters.

“After inspecting the GBK venues and the media center, I see that everything is truly ready. I asked earlier, and there were no complaints, all is well,” said Kalla.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, accompanied by the chairman of the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc), Erick Thohir; Inasgoc Deputy Chairman Syafrie Syamsuddin, and Inasgoc Secretary-General Eris Heriyanto, has a look at the 2018 Asian Games Media Center Building at the Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Tuesday (14/8/2018). Previously, he and the entourage visited the Athlete\'s Houses in Kemayoran, Jakarta. Kalla said that all the Asian Games preparations were going well so he was sure the event would run smoothly and successfully.

Positive image

Four games were held on Tuesday, the first day of the basketball preliminaries: Japan vs. Taiwan, Thailand vs. Mongolia, Hong Kong vs. Qatar and South Korea vs. Indonesia. The athletes appreciated how the games were organized.

Japan small forward Takuma Sato, 23, said the basketball court and all facilities were in accordance with athletes’ needs at Asia-level competitions. Sato added that on-site volunteers helped him understand the venue’s layout.

Chinese Taipei small forward Douglas Creighton, 33, shared Sato’s opinion. “All facilities are well prepared,” he said.

Creighton said that the basketball court flooring was not slippery, and no players had slipped during the game. The scoring and audio systems functioned well, and the spectators were calm. He also praised the volunteers’ hospitality, which made him feel at home.

Sato and Creighton said they were satisfied with the readiness of the court as well as the facilities at the Athletes Village in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. They said their rooms were comfortable and the meals were delicious. “The food provided for us at the Athletes Village is diverse, and they all taste good,” said Creighton.

Transportation between the Athletes Village and the basketball venue was smooth. “The trip took 20 minutes,” said Sato.

However, other athletes said they were dissatisfied with the Games facilities. The Vietnam national soccer team has decided to boycott the opening ceremony, to be held on Saturday at the GBK sports complex in Senayan, to protest arrangements at the training field.

“We have agreed not to attend the opening ceremony, due to problems with the soccer [training field],” Vietnam national football team manager Vu Lam Dong said at Wibawa Mukti Stadium, Cikarang.

Inasgoc had provided the Sutasoma Field at Halim Perdana Kusuma for soccer practice sessions. However, when the Vietnam soccer team arrived at the field on Sunday afternoon, they were told that they could not use the field because of a licensing issue. They were finally allowed to practice there at 8 p.m., but they rejected the offer, as it was too late in the day.

Vietnam U-23 soccer coach Park Hang Seo also expressed disappointment over the long distance between the training field and the hotel where the Vietnamese athletes were staying. “The distance [between the hotel and Sutasoma Field] is 42 kilometers. In consideration of a closer location and not wasting our players’ energy, we have decided to find someplace else [to stay],” said the South Korean coach. On Monday, the team practiced on a field in Bekasi owned by a South Korean company.

Nepal soccer player Rohit Chand also said the training field was too far from the hotel where he and his teammates were staying. However, he said this was not a problem, as a police escort was provided to accompany the Nepal national team’s bus to cut through the traffic to reach Sutasoma.

Several handball athletes also protested the short practice time they were provided on the fifth floor of GBK stadium. The fifth and eighth floors of the stadium were to be used for handball practice. However, as the eighth floor was not ready, all practices were held on the fifth floor, and the practice sessions were shortened to give all teams a chance to practice.

Meanwhile, at POPKI Sports Hall in Cibubur, East Jakarta, the 5-by-20 meter warm-up tent for handball athletes was deemed too small, and the 750-lux lighting too dim.

Inasgoc games operations director Harry Warganegara said all remaining issues were small details that would be resolved before Aug. 17.

Amid the problems, the foreign delegations are showing high enthusiasm for the 2018 Asian Games, with more than 17,000 athletes and officials registering for the Games to exceed the government’s expectation of 15,000. In addition, 11,000 foreign journalists are expected to cover the multi-sports event, exceeding the expected 7,000.

“They all have a good impression of Indonesia and they did not have any doubts about coming here. We cannot limit their number, as they will be good for promotions,” said Erick.

(NTA/KYR/DRI/KEL/JON)