Preparation of the 2018 Asian Games Runs Well, Government Says

Cabinet Secretary and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture explained the result of the Limited Meeting on Asian Games at the Presidential Office (11/1)

Although there are still a number of things that need to be prepared, the Government thinks that in general, the preparation of the 18th Asian Games in 2018 runs well.

 “The preparation runs well though there are still a number of things that must be prepared, for example, the venues like the velodrome and racecourse need to be renovated,” Cabinet Secretary, Pramono Anung, said when delivering a press statement on the result of the Limited Meeting, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Monday (11/1) afternoon.

The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (PMK) Puan Maharani explained that the Athlete Village which will be used to accomodate the athletes competing in the 2018 Asian Games will be built at block C2 and D10 Kemayoran by the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR). If it is not enough, the village will be built at block C3, also in Kemayoran, by PT Perumnas.

 “This is a rusunawa (low-cost rented apartments) built by PUPR and PT Perumnas that will be used as an athlete village that meets the standard of the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and OCA (Olympic Council of Asia). So, it means there is no problems related with athlete village,” Puan said.

Puan also stated that Gelora Bung Karno (Jakarta) and Jakabaring Stadion, Palembang, will be renovated. All sports venues in Gelora Bung Karno will be renovated by the Ministry of PUPR.

Puan admitted that there is still problem regarding velodrome and racecourse. “We are still analyzing it and we’ll see whether the Provincial Government of Jakarta will build the venues since the Governor and the Deputy Governor of Jakarta are not present today. However, Insya Allah, I can ensure that we will build them,” she said. According to Puan, the construction can be done in Jakarta or Bandung.

These problems will be solved eventually because the target is in July 2017 all matters related with infrasrtructures and facilities must be finished.

 “So, there is no more problem with the Provincial Government of Jakarta related with grant because it is the Central Government and Ministry of PUPR that will  carry out the construction of athlete village and the venues,” Puan affirmed.

Concerning the athletes’ achievement, Minister Puan explained that President Joko Widodo has assigned the Ministry of Youth and Sports to be responsible for this issue. Meanwhile, in the organization of the Asian Games, the Government has coordinated with KOI (Indonesian Olympic Committee), and Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INAGOC). Starting 1 February this year, the OCA will send its six officers to cooperate with KOI and the Central Government in organizing the upcoming Asian Games.

To build 15 towers

Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi said that there are 15 towers to be built in athlete village in Kemayoran. Ten of them, that will be built by Ministry of PUPR, will be a rusunawa after the Asian Games finished because the fund comes from the State Budget. Meanwhile, the towers built by PT Perumnas will be a rusunami(subsidised low-cost apartments) because it can be sold.

 “The size is still 36 square meters which meets the OCA’s standard,” Imam said while mentioning that the auction is starting today and on 9 March it will be ready for groundbreaking. It is expected to be finished in July 2017.

In Jakabaring, according to Imam, three towers had been built in 2015. In 2016, the Governor asks to build three more. “We have prepared two towers for a tender today,” he said.

The total of the cost needed for the construction in Kemayoran is more than Rp 3 trillion. “For this tender, we have prepared around Rp 1 trillion for the down payment, the rest will be covered by the Revised State Budget,” Imam said. (FID/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)