JAKARTA: The Indonesian capital held a mass event on Sunday to welcome the upcoming Asian Games with the participation of 65,000 people including the south-east Asian nation’s President Joko Widodo, ministers and senior officials in the government.
The event was part of nationwide observances to commemorate the 73rd national Independence Day and to welcome the 18th Asian Games slated to commence in the next two weeks in the nation’s two host cities of Jakarta and Palembang, reports Xinhua news agency.
“Indonesia has put a historical event on the books,” Indonesia Youths and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi said, referring to the mass exercise based on a traditional dance from eastern Indonesia.
Addressing the record-breaking event, Widodo wished the Asiad success. “We want to see great success in the 2018 Asian Games. Our preparations were successful and we expect to see more success ahead both in events and for our athletes,” he said.
Coordinator of the record-breaking exercise Firdaus Ali noted that similar events were held in 48 cities across the nation and nine cities in foreign countries.
The upcoming Asiad will be the second for Indonesia, which hosted the tournament in 1962. The 18th Asian Games, themed “Energy of Asia,” are scheduled to be held from August 18 to September 2 in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang, and will draw over 11,000 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions.
