Let’s Be a Good Host, President Jokowi Says

”Ayo Indonesia” slogan for 2018 Asian Games

During the handing over Asian Games torch to Chairman of the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) Eric Tohir at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday (8/17), President Jokowi reminded Tohir to always uphold the principle of fair play.

“I hope the Asian Games torch will symbolize friendship and fair play,” President Jokowi said, while expressing hope that Indonesia will become a good host.

“Let’s be a good host. Smile and show the friendly face of our nation and enjoy the performance from the best athletes from Asia,” the President also wrote on his Facebook fan page and Twitter account.

On a different occasion, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi addressed Indonesian athletes through his press release.

“To all Indonesian sport heroes competing in 2018 Asian Games, please remember that history only captures the names of the champions. So fight, win and have your names recorded in history. Viva Indonesia, Indonesia is the Champion,” the Minister tweeted.

Nahrawi also said that Indonesia should be proud because after 56 years it can host the Asian Games for the second time.  “We hosted Asian Games back then in 1962, when the Republic of Indonesia was still 17 years old. It was at that time that we got the best achievement in sports by finishing second among all Asian countries,” he said.

The Minister added that Indonesian Government at that time had a big dream that Indonesia would be respected by the world.

The Asian Games itself started during the end of Western imperialism and the beginning of the Asian nations’ independence. Thus, the Asian Games served as a momentum for the birth of nationalism and solidarity among Asian nations, he added.

Nahrawi also said that the motto of 2018 Asian Games, ‘Energy of Asia’, must be interpreted as the momentum of revival of Indonesian sports at international level.

“This is the moment for Indonesian people to show our quality as a great nation as well as to show our great energy to Asia and to the world as we once did at 1962,” Nahrawi said, adding that the spirit of Asian Games should not change, let alone fade away.

For the record, in the 2018 Asian Games, Indonesia sends 938 athletes competing in 40 sports and 396 officials.

Although Indonesia participates in all sports and all athletes are expected show their best efforts before their own public, there are a number of sports that are projected to win gold medals, including paragliding, rowing, jet ski, badminton, wushu, bridge, weightlifting, pencak silat, rock climbing and taekwondo.

“We really hope our best athletes of badminton, jet ski, paragliding, wushu, pencak silat and rock climbing can achieve the best result. The athletes have got impressive results in the previous events and in the trials and we hope the athletes will deliver the best achievements in the 2018 Asian Games, ” Nahrawi further said.

The Minister added that the Government is also committed to providing Rp1.5 billion bonus for every gold medalist, the highest bonus ever given by the Government in the history of Asian Games. (DND/EN/ES) (RI/EP/Naster)