Jakarta, Aug 19 (Antara) - Asia's biggest multi-sport event featuring 40 sports and attracting 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries had officially been opened by Indonesian President Joko Widodo here on Saturday evening.
Taking place at the Gelora Bung Karno main stadium in Jakarta, the 18th Asian Games' opening ceremony began at 7 p.m. local time featuring four thousand dancers.
The dancers represented various elements of the multicultural society in Indonesia with the youngest one being eight years old and the eldest one being 80 years old.
Wearing Indonesia's unique traditional costumes, the dancers introduced the guests to the beauty and unity in diversity of Indonesia. They also brought the vibrant energy as they danced.
Most of the performers were common people and students rather than those from the professional community members.
In his opening remarks, President Joko Widodo shared his pride and honor of having the opportunity to host and receive such special guests from 45 countries
The president said that in the 18th Asian Games, all nations in Asia seek to show kinship between countries.
After President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah delivered his remark, President Joko Widodo, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla on the stage, opened the Asian Games.
In his remark that he delivered earlier, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said the 2018 Asian Games had incised a number of new historical events for the Asian countries.
"We are delighted to be present in your beautiful country. The 2018 Asian Games has made a new history as for the first time in the history of Asia's biggest sporting extravaganza, the Games are jointly hosted by two cities -Jakarta and Palembang," he said.
After a 56-year wait, Indonesia again hosted the Asian Games for the second time. The 18th Asian Games also made a new history in which the North and South Korean teams merged into one team, he stated.
The Kuwaiti contingent, who had to receive sanctions and had to be under an independent banner for several years, can take part in this Asia's biggest multi-sport event by raising its own flag and national anthem.
Witnessing this historic moment, Sheikh Ahmad expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian people as well as the leadership of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla for making Indonesia be the host of the Asian Games.
"We are also grateful to more than 30 thousand volunteers who have supported this Asia's biggest sporting event. We cannot do it without your support. Thank you for the time and contribution to Indonesia's glory," he said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Indonesian Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INASGOC) Erick Thohir, praised the Asian nations in his opening remarks, calling them as the harmony and peace lovers.
"Indonesia believes that Asia is an amazing continent and as a land of diversity with the largest number of tribes and ethnic groups in the world," said Erick, who also serves as the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) president.
With their demographic diversity, the Asian nations have become a dynamic and competitive Asian society.
"Asia has the diversity of the nations. We are all here to celebrate our diversity and humanity, and to channel energy from diverse nations to become one, namely the energy of Asia," he said.
Shortly after that, a number of Indonesian Olympic medalists entered the stage by carrying the OCA flag. They then read the Asian Games declaration by representatives of the athletes.
Colossal dance and music performances were next on the list, as Indonesian singers, such as Raisa, Fatin, and Rossa, sang folk songs to hundreds of dancers performing traditional dances.
In Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra Province that, along with Jakarta, co-hosts the Asian Games, the pop Indonesian band group, The Titans, enlivened the Welcome Night event there.
Performing eight of its renowned songs at the event held to greet the 18th Asian Games contingents in Jakabaring Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium, The Titan received an extraordinary welcome from hundreds of audience, comprising athletes, officials, referees, and guests.
The Titans is an Indonesian band, lead by its keyboardist Andika Naliputra Wiraharja, with Hendra Suhendra on bass, Sonny Krisna Yudha on guitar and backing vocal, Tommi Herlambang on synth and program, Utomo Haridwinanto on drum, and Rezcky Purba on lead vocal.
Before their performance, which began at 5:30 p.m. local time, the event started with a colossal dance performance engaging 100 dancers showcasing traditional and contemporary dances from South Sumatra.
The Executive Committee of the Asian Games held the Welcome Night event as a warm greeting to the contingents from a number of countries as they prepare to compete in a number of sports branches in the next two weeks.
Palembang hosts 12 sports branches with 3.1 thousand athletes participating in them.
In addition to The Titans, Indonesia's own jazz darling Andien also entertained the attendants, followed by a set by DJ Sara Santini.
The spectators of the opening ceremony in Jakarta also watched the athlete parades, which were also shown on a giant LCD screen.
Considering the fact that the 2018 Asian Games is Asia's biggest multi-sport event, it is then seen as a golden opportunity for Indonesia to demonstrate its ability to the world.
"We do not know how many more years Indonesia will be able to host the Asian Games for the third time. Thus, this is a golden opportunity to show the world that Indonesia is capable," Director General of Culture at the Education and Culture Ministry Hilmar Farid said.
In 1962, Indonesia was able to hold the Asian Games successfully. Indonesia won second place with the acquisition of 11 gold medals, 12 silver medals, and 28 bronze medals in the multi-sport event.
In the 2018 Asian Games, Indonesia should get more achievements than those of its previous performance in the fourth Asian Games.
All Indonesian people, he said, fully support the country's athletes who compete in the 18th Asian Games.
"I am sure that Indonesian athletes who have made excellent preparations will show their abilities and performances optimally to achieve more medals for Indonesia," he said.
Securing Asian Games
Security really matters for Indonesia. The Indonesian Military Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto said the National Defense Forces (TNI) is ready to back up the Indonesian Police in securing the Asian Games 2018, starting from ring one to ring four.
For this purpose, the TNI deployed its personnel coming from the Siliwangi Regional Military Command III for venues in Bandung, West Java; the Jakarta Regional Military Command for venues in the capital; and the Sriwijaya Regional Military Command II for venues in Palembang, South Sumatra, for assisting the Asian Games security arrangements.
The soldiers, deployed to assist the police in securing the Asian Games 2018, consist of regular troops and special troops, he added.
During the opening ceremony at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) personnel were responsible for securing the ring one.
At the same time, the police also handled security arrangements in the areas outside the ring one. In securing the stadium's complex area, the police had installed more than 300 CCTVs capable of identifying visitors' faces in several points.
"We have installed more than 300 CCTVs capable of detecting human faces at the Bung Karno Stadium. From the footage, we can trace people's names, addresses, and direct personal data," he explained.
The installment of the CCTV is aimed at minimizing vandalism and crimes at the Bung Karno Stadium, he pointed out.
Indonesia attempts to do its best to make sure that the 18th Asian Games runs smoothly and successfully, and it can light up the energy of Asia. (*)
