2018 Asian Games take on a new look

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The 2018 Asian Games will be held from August 18 to September 2. This will be the second time for Indonesia to host the event since 1962, with around 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions competing in 40 sports, making the second-largest program in Asian Games history.

Before the tournament kicks off, CGTN Digital is giving you a preview of some of the new elements of Jakarta Asian Games.

Two host cities for first time

Workers prepare for the opening ceremony ahead of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, August 14, 2018. /VCG Photo

The 2018 Asian Games will be hosted in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang. For the first time, the games are being hosted by two cities at the same time. As the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta will host the opening and closing ceremonies.

Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra Province. The city's historical landmarks, its rich culture and culinary heritage make it among the most favorite tourist destinations in Indonesia. Palembang hosted the Southeast Asian Games in 2011 and the city has its own airport.

Newest additions: eSports, canoe polo

"League of Legends" will make an appearance at the Jakarta Asian Games. /VCG Photo

ESports and Canoe Polo will make their debut at the Jakarta Asian Games as demonstration sports.

The expansion of eSports markets made the games popular around the world, drawing special attention to League of Legends, StarCraft 2, and Hearthstone.

China will send two collective teams and a solo player for the AOV, Clash Royale, and League of Legends during the Jakarta Asian Games. League of Legends star player Jian "UZI" Zihao is on the list.

Also, Canoe Polo, a team game that combines boating and ball handling skills, was added to the Asian Games on March 2017.

Tokyo 2020 in mind

Jakarta held a welcoming ceremony at Asian Games Village for the delegation from 45 countries and regions in Asia. /VCG Photo

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has cut down the sports from 42 to 40 at an executive board meeting on September 2017.

The final selection of sports and events include all the sports that will be featured in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, except surfing.

Cricket, which was on the list of the last two Asian Games, surfing and sambo, which would have made their first-time appearance this year, were all discarded.

Although the three sports were brought out of the Asian Games, the number of sporting events this year (431 in total) is the second highest in the Asian Games history, only behind the 476 games of 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.

New lifestyle in Palembang

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (2nd L) and high-ranking officials sitting inside a light rail transit (LRT) rail car at Jakabaring station in Palembang. /VCG Photo

Thanks to the Jakarta Asian Games, Palembang, one of the host cities, now has a sparkling new Light Rail Transit (LRT), covering 24.5 kilometers and with 13 stations.

Indonesia has investigated a series of malfunctions ahead of the Asian Games, and its first light rapid transit (LRT) system will be plugged before the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, as the Indonesian transport ministry said earlier this week.

Palembang International Airport is one of the stations.

Government officials hope that all the new transportation system will become a new lifestyle in Palembang and other cities throughout Indonesia where LRT projects are planned.