Indonesia ready to host 2018 Asian Para Games

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After the conclusion of the 2018 Asian Games, Indonesia is set to host the 2018 Asian Paralympic Games, also known as the 3rd Asian Para Games, from October 6-13 in Jakarta.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday said he explicitly requested that disabled citizens be given special consideration in order to be able to watch the games.

"I want free access for disabled citizens to watch Asian Para Games matches," President Joko Widodo said, according to local media Liputan 6.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 18, 2018. /VCG Photo

Indonesia's Sports and Youth Minister Imam Nahrawi said the ministry would fulfill the president's request by distributing free tickets to registered disabled communities and avoid fraud.

According to the Indonesian Asian Para Games Organizing Committee (INAPGOC), the country's Social Ministry will use data to determine communities chosen to receive free tickets and the Para Games' ticket prices for the general public would likely be cheaper than those for the Asian Games.

The games torch relay started on Wednesday in Solo of Central Java and will pass through major cities in the nation's eastern and western provinces.

The INAPGOC stated earlier that over 2,800 athletes and 1,800 officials from 41 countries and regions will participate in the games. The majority of the event will take place in Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) and in a velodrome in the eastern part of the city.

The theme for the Games will be "Energy of Asia." The logo for the 2018 Asian Para Games will represent the harmony and balance in Asia, the organizers said.

"The logo is circular with the image of a man at the center of it, circled by three curves with different colors, depicting the diversity of Asia still moving together in harmony to attain common goals," said INAPGOC Head Raja Sapta Oktohari.

"The mascot Momo stands for Motivation and Mobility, suggesting athletes should continue moving forward, adapting themselves in developing situations," Raja added.

China dominates the medal table of the 2018 Asian Games, also known as the 18th Asian Games, which was held in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Palembang, August 18 - September 2, 2018. /CGTN Photo

Indonesia received good commendations from the heads of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and the Olympics Council of Asia (OCA) for its success in organizing the Asian Games and its achievements in Jakarta and Palembang.

IOC President Thomas Bach said that Indonesia proved capable of working efficiently to hold the international event.

In the 2018 Asian Games, Indonesia seized 31 gold, 24 silver and 43 bronze medals, which ranked it fourth on the medal tally, where Asian sports power China dominated with 132 gold, 92 silver and 65 bronze medals.

(Cover: Players from Afghanistan in red and Thailand in white compete during the Asia Para Games qualifying tournament in Bangkok on March 4, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency