Vice President believes 2018 Asian Games venues completed on schedule

Jakarta-wapresri.go.id. Vice President Jusuf Kalla observed a number of development projects of sports facilities that will be used in the 2018 Asian Games (AG) in Jakarta on Sunday (March 26).

Accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Acting Governor of Jakarta Soni Sumarsono, and the President of the Indonesia 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) Erick Thohir, the Vice President physically examined the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) stadium, the Aquatics Center, Istora Senayan, cycling field (velodrome) in Rawamangun, equestrian in Pulomas, and athletes village in Kemayoran.

Infrastructure is one of the three main concerns in the 2018 Asian Games for Indonesia in addition to the achievement and organization.

The Vice President began the observation by visiting the GBK main stadium. The stadium that has stood for 55 years is undergoing a major renovation to support about 14 sports contested in the 2018 AG as well as the venue for the opening ceremony next August 18, 2018.

The Vice President together with the entourage then moved towards the aquatics center nearby the stadium which was designed with Russian architecture. The venue is being renovated to become more modern without disrupting its historical value.

“There are four pools that we have built new since 1962, during the era of President Soekarno. The strength of the building quality is still very reliable. Currently, we have completed 36% [of the renovation] and insha Allah [if God’s willing] next October we will accomplished 100%. The fourth pool is intended for water polo, diving, competition, and sychro,” said head of the project area management of the Aquatics Center Anggoro Putra.

The entourage then moved toward Istora Senayan which will be the center of badminton. To the management of the venue, the Vice President emphasized on the aesthetics of the placement and use of electrical functions and the quality of the building facilities.

The Vice President then proceeded to the next venue which is the cycling arena in Rawamangun, commonly known as the Velodrome. The building that merges with Rawamangun Sports Arena was established in 1973 and has an area of ​​approximately 300 meter-square which will be transformed into a cycling arena of international standard.

Not far from the Velodrome, they then moved to the North to observe the equestrian center in Pulomas. Not different from the Velodrome, Pulomas equestrian covering the area of ​​60 hectares is also being renovated. Both of the velodrome and the equestrian are managed by the Jakarta administration.

The Vice President then asked the Director of Jakarta Propertindo, a Jakarta-administration-owned enterprise managing the venue, Satya Heragandhi Propertindo to pay attention to the environment when carrying out development in the area. He paid particular attention to people’s homes which could be easily seen form the place.

“The houses should not be displaced. Just leave them where they are. This sport does not only belong to those who can afford to exercise here. The poor people must also be allowed to exercise here,” said the Vice President.

Concluding his safari, the Vice President visited the Athletes Village in Kemayoran.

In the venue, he listened to Ditto Ferakhim of the Directorate General of Housing Provision of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing explaining the site development.

Ditto said, the quality of facilities used in the location that will accommodate the athletes competing in the 2018 AG will be equal to that of a three-star hotel.

Ditto added, in the building with a capacity of 3,500 people per tower, almost all of the facilities are local products.

It is also planned, he said, that all 2018 AG venues will be integrated with LRT and other public transportation.

Ditto added, after the 2018 Asian Games, the Athletes Village will be turned into as low-cost apartments (rusunawa).

Overall, the Vice President reviewed, all of the infrastructure facilities meet the quality requirements. He also felt optimistic that the supporting infrastructure construction for the 2018 will be completed on schedule.