2018 Asian Games

XVIII Asian Games

Official emblem of 2018 Asian Games
Host city Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia[1]
Motto Unity Beyond Diversity[2]
Opening ceremony August 18 (18-08)[3]
Closing ceremony September 2 (2-09)
Main venue Gelora Bung Karno Stadium[4]
<  2014 2022  >

The 2018 Asian Games (Indonesian: Asian Games Musim Panas 2018) will be the 18th edition of a regional multi-sport event in Asia which is planned to be hosted by Indonesia from August 18 – September 2, 2018. 38 sports and disciplines will be featured in the Games,[5] For the first time, two cities will host the Games, in Jakarta, the national capital city, and Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra province.[6] Two provinces that surround Jakarta, Banten and West Java also plan to support the Games with their existing sporting venues.[7] Indonesia was approved as the host of the Games by Olympic Council of Asia executive board on September 19, 2014.[8] They will host the Games in 2018 rather than the originally planned 2019 to avoid the presidential election.[9]

Originally Hanoi, Vietnam was chosen as the host.[10] However, they withdrew due to the financial constraints.[11]

Bidding and development

Hanoi as the former host

Hanoi was the original host for the 2018 Asian Games after they won the bid against other host candidates, Surabaya and Dubai. In November 8, 2012, Hanoi awarded with the right to host the games after won the bid with 29 votes against Surabaya with 14 votes,[12] meanwhile Dubai pulled out at the last minute, instead announcing their intention to focus on future bids while committee's first vice-president denied any pullout and claimed the UAE's National Olympic Committee "did not apply for hosting 2019 Asian Games" and "only considered" doing so.[13][14] Indonesian delegation claimed that Hanoi's victory was influenced by China's huge interest in the country.

However, in March 2014, there were some concerns on whether US$150 million is a realistic budget for the Games, by referring to the amount spent by the previous host city, and claimed that the government may eventually spend over US$300 million. In addition, several stadiums built in conjunction with 2003 Southeast Asian Games were not utilized ever since.[15] Former chairman of Vietnam Olympic Committee Ha Quang Du also added that hosting the Asian Games would not boost tourism in Vietnam.[16]

On April 17, 2014, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung officially announced Hanoi's withdrawal from hosting the games. He cited unpreparedness and economic recession as the main reasons of the withdrawal, as they have left the country unable to afford the construction of facilities and venues.[11] Statistics imply that the majority of Vietnamese are happy with this decision.[17] There was no penalty will be imposed for the withdrawal.[18]

Appointment of Jakarta and Palembang

After Hanoi's withdrawal, the OCA has said that Indonesia, China and the United Arab Emirates are the most likely candidates for the host.[19] Indonesia was considered as a favourite, since Surabaya was the runner-up of the previous bid,[20] and willing to do so if selected.[21] Philippines[22] and India expressed their interest about hosting the Games. However, on July 7, 2014, India failed to submit late bid after failing to get an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having given an extended deadline by OCA.[23]

On May 5, 2014, OCA visited some possible Indonesian cities which were possible to host the Games, such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, and Palembang. However, Surabaya decided to drop the plan to host the Games and instead focusing on hosting previously appointed 2021 Asian Youth Games.[24] On 25 July 2014, during the meeting in Kuwait City, the OCA has appointed Jakarta as host of the Games. Jakarta will be supported by Palembang as the supporting host. The Indonesian capital city was chosen because it has well-equipped sport facilities as well as adequate transportation networks, and other facilities such hotels and lodgings for guests. The Games however, was said to be rescheduled a year earlier, shifted from originally planned 2019 to 2018, citing that in 2019 Indonesians will be preoccupied by their Presidential election, and Jakarta would only need a relatively minimal times to upgrade and renovate their existing sports facilities.[25] On September 20, 2014, Indonesia signed the host city contract for the 18th Asian Games by Indonesian Olympic Committee President, Rita Subowo, Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, and Governor of South Sumatra, Alex Noerdin.[26] Later on the closing ceremony of 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Indonesia appointed symbolically by OCA to host the next Games.[27]

Organisation

Marketing

Initial design of the official mascot.

The official logo was launched on September 9, 2015 during the country's National Sports Day. The logo depicts the image of a cenderawasih, a rare species of a bird in Indonesia, means carries high hopes for the country’s sports at the quadrennial event.[28]

Drawa, a bird-of-paradise was unveiled as the official mascot on December 28, 2015. The selected logo and mascot shows that Asian Games does not only belong to Jakarta and Palembang only but also to Indonesia.[29] However, after massive criticism over its old-fashioned and uncreative design,[30] the organizers abandoned the mascot and ordered Creative Economy Board (Badan Ekonomi Kreatif) to revise the design. The revised mascot will be completed in April 2016.[31]

Venues

For the games, some venues will be built, renovated, and prepared across four provinces in Indonesia, which are Jakarta, South Sumatra, Banten, and West Java. On 7 January 2015, it was announced that the athlete village and aquatics center will be build in Kemayoran.[32] A media centre will also build in the subdistrict that will serve together with Jakarta Convention Center.[33] The organisation hopes to keep the cost down by using the existing sports facilities and infrastructure, including those venues built for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.[34] South Sumatra's provincial government claim that they are ready to held at least 18 sport disciplines with their existing Jakabaring Sport City complex. They will renovate some of facilities in the complex, including the capacity upgrade of Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium from 40,000 to 60,000 seats and lengthen the Jakabaring Lake to 2,300 meters.[35]

Transport

As part of the Games preparation, the constructions of Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit will be accelerated.[36] Palembang will also upgrade their transportation facilities by building 25 kilometres long of monorail from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport to Jakabaring Sport City.[37] Some other transportation facilities such as underpasses, flyovers, and bridges will be also built in the city.[38]

Costs

The government has allocated a budget of IDR 3 trillion to prepare for the Games, with regional administrations also expected to supply the funding.[34]

Games

Ceremonies

The OCA decided that Jakarta will host both of the opening and closing ceremonies,[39] despite earlier sports minister said Palembang will host the closing ceremony.[40]

Sports

The 2018 Asian Games will feature 29 Olympic sports and 8 non-Olympic sports.[41] For the first time, Pencak Silat and bridge will feature in the Games.[33][42]

Concerns and controversies

There are some concerns prior to the Games preparation, such as the number of sport played between Jakarta and Palembang, location of opening and closing ceremony, progress of the venues and athlete village's construction, logo and mascot choice for the Games, and possibility of hosting the Games without football since Indonesia is suspended by FIFA.

Muddai Madang, vice president of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), said that he feared the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) could cancel Indonesia’s role as a host country in the Asian Games. He slammed the Jakarta administration for not having started the tender process for cooperation contracts.[43]

On December 28, 2015, Governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama made a statement that he personally preferred Palembang as the sole host of the Games. He stated that if not because OCA have decided that Palembang is not suitable to host the Games without Jakarta, he would let Palembang to be the sole host of the Games.[44]

Soon after the mascot was unveiled, the netizens derided the organisers for resembling a chicken, rather than supposed to be an "exotic, jungle-dwelling bird".[45]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Odi Aria Saputra (10 April 2015). "Keppres Asian Games Turun Pertengahan April" (in Indonesian). Sriwijaya Post. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Situmorang, Hendro D (11 January 2016). "Kempora dan KOI Siapkan Master Plan Asian Games 2018". Berita Satu. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "18-8-18 start planned for 18th Asian Games". Olympic Council of Asia. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Ade Irma Junida (2 October 2014). "GBK akan direnovasi demi Asian Games 2018" (in Indonesian). Antara. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Putri Utami (February 22, 2014). "Panjat Dinding dan Paralayang Jadi Cabor di Asian Games 2018" (in Indonesian). Pikiran Rakyat. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ DP, Yashinta (16 September 2015). "Pembukaan dan Penutupan Asian Games 2018 diadakan di Jakarta". Antara News. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Putri Utami (20 March 2014). "Menpora Janji Arena Asian Games 2018 Siap Tahun Ini" (in Indonesian). Okezone. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Asian Games: Indonesia to host Asiad in 2018, says OCA chief". Channel News Asia. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  9. ↑ Davies, Will (20 September 2014). "Indonesia to Host 2018 Asian Games". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Hanoi wins race to host 2019 Asian Games". The Star. 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  11. 1 2 "Vietnam backs out as hosts of 2019 Asian Games". Reuters. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  12. ↑ Adamrah, Mustaqim (2012-11-09). "RI loses Asian Games bid to Vietnam". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  13. ↑ Sambidge, Andy (2012-11-09). "UAE denies Asian Games 2019 vote pull-out". Arabian Business. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  14. ↑ Tam, Aaron (2012-11-09). "Hanoi wins race to host 2019 Asian Games: officials". AFP. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
  15. ↑ "Vietnam lawmakers concerned by mounting cost of Asian Games". Thanh Nien News. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Vietnam PM could pull plug on Asian Games". Thanh Nien News. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  17. ↑ "Vietnamese hail PM’s decision to relinquish 2019 Asiad". Tuoi Tre. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "Asian Games: No penalty for Vietnam pullout, says OCA". Channel News Asia. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  19. ↑ Thongsombat, Kittipong (30 April 2014). "Trio vying to host 2019 Asian Games". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  20. ↑ "Indonesia favorite to take on 2019 Asiad". Shanghai Daily. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "Indonesia 'proud' to host 2019 Asiad if selected". The Times of India. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  22. ↑ Alinea, Eddie (31 August 2014). "POC bids to host next Asian Games". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  23. ↑ Ganguly, Sudipto (7 July 2014). "India drops plans for late 2019 Asian Games bid". Reuters India. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  24. ↑ "Kesiapan Indonesia Sebagai Calon Tuan Rumah AG 2019 Mulai Dievaluasi". Pikiran Rakyat. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  25. ↑ Tjahjo Sasongko (28 July 2014). "Setelah 1962, Jakarta Kembali Tuan Rumah Asian Games" (in Indonesian). Kompas.com. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  26. ↑ "Indonesia to host 18th Asian Games in 2018". Olympic Council of Asia. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  27. ↑ Butler, Nick (4 October 2014). "Asian Games: The Closing Ceremony". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  28. ↑ Prathivi, Niken (10 September 2015). "Asian Games logo expected to inspire high performance". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  29. ↑ Morgan, Liam (28 December 2015). "Mascot and logo for 2018 Asian Games officially launched". inside the games. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "Ministry to change logo, mascot after outcry". www.thejakartapost.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  31. ↑ "Govt set to speed up work on Asian Games". www.thejakartapost.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
  32. ↑ Aziza, Kurnia Sari; Afrianti, Desy (7 January 2015). "Jelang Asian Games 2018, DKI Akan Bangun Kampung Atlet di Kemayoran". KOMPAS. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  33. 1 2 Wardany, Irawaty (28 January 2015). "Pencak silat will make Asian Games’ maiden showin 2018". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  34. 1 2 Goddard, Emily (8 January 2015). "Preparations for Jakarta 2018 Asian Games praised by OCA President". inside the games. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  35. ↑ "Sumsel Siap Gelar 18 Cabang Olahraga Asian Games 2018" (in Indonesian). Suara Pembaruan. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  36. ↑ Tristia Tambun, Lenny (7 January 2015). "Hadapi Asian Games 2018, Djarot Minta Pembangunan MRT Dikebut" (in Indonesian). Berita Satu. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  37. ↑ "South Sumatra to build monorail for 2018 Asian Games". Antara News. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  38. ↑ "Jadi Tuan Rumah, Pemkot Targetkan 2017 Siap Sambut Asian Games" (in Indonesian). Rakyat Merdeka Online Sumsel. 9 March 2015.
  39. ↑ Al-Yamani, Zaky; Ilham Rafles, Riki (17 September 2015). "Pembukaan Asian Games 2018 Batal di Palembang". VIVA. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  40. ↑ "Minister: 2018 Asian Games Closing Ceremony in Palembang". Jakarta Globe. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  41. ↑ "Penetapan Cabang Olahraga dan Lokasi Venue Pertandingan Asian Games 2018" (in Indonesian). Kementerian Pemuda dan Olahraga Republik Indonesia. 22 June 2015.
  42. ↑ "Bridge included in 2018 Jakarta Asian Games". Dawn. APP. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  43. ↑ "Doubts emerge about Indonesia's preparedness for Asian Games 2018". The Jakarta Post. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  44. ↑ "Ahok Wants Asian Games to be Held in Palembang". Tempo. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  45. ↑ "Indonesia says will change Asian Games 'chicken' mascot". Channel News Asia. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.

External links

Preceded by
Incheon		 Asian Games
Jakarta–Palembang
XVIII Asiad (2018) 		Succeeded by
Hangzhou
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2018 Asian Games.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, May 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.