Asia's Biggest Momment Asian Games
Asia’s biggest sporting event, the Asian Games will reach Indonesia in August. The multi-sport event is scheduled to be held from 18 August to 2 September, 2018. An estimated 9,000 athletes from 45 countries will contest in 40 types of sports and games. This will be the first time the Asian games will be hosted in two cities, Jakarta and Palembang. This is also Indonesia’s first time hosting the games since 1962.
Ever since being selected as host for the games, Indonesia has spent massive amounts of money on new sporting venues, upgrading existing sports infrastructures, and building other infrastructure to support the games. According to Indonesia’s National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) a total of US$2.4 billion will be spent on infrastructure development surrounding the 2018 Asian games.
In fact, it was the high cost that comes with hosting these games that made Indonesia the hosts. In 2012, Hanoi, Vietnam was selected to be the host after they won the bid. Hanoi won the bid after gaining 29 votes against Surabaya’s 14. Then two years later in April 2014, Vietnam officially announced its withdrawal from hosting the games as Vietnam was unprepared and could not afford the construction of new facilities and infrastructure. Prior to the withdrawal, concerns were raised whether the US$150 million budget was viable. There were also reports that Vietnam would end up spending over US$300 million as hosts of the games. So, after Hanoi pulled out as hosts, the Olympic Council of Asia selected Jakarta and Palembang as the hosts of the 2018 Asian Games. Among the reasons Jakarta was chosen as the host was because it already has sports facilities, adequate transportation networks and lodging for guests and participants.
With large amounts of money spent on the games, one question comes to the fore — is it worth it? While hosting international sporting events may raise the profile and prestige of the host City, it can be extremely costly to the economy. Rio de Janeiro is still facing the after effects from being hosts of the Olympics in 2016. Venues and stadiums have become white elephants as the economy there faces problems and the city’s citizens are faced with continuous economic hardships. Perhaps Vietnam made a wise choice deciding against hosting the games.
Bappenas claims that Indonesia will spend US$2.4 billion on infrastructure for the games, but the cost of the Asian Games as a whole is estimated to cost the Indonesian economy somewhere in the region of US$3.2 billion. Among the projects for the games include a light rail transit (LRT) connecting the Palembang airport to the Jakabaring Stadium Complex. This LRT project is said to cost US$676 million. In addition to that, 15 venues have been renovated to prepare for the games including the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium that will host the opening and closing ceremonies. Indonesia has also constructed the biggest equestrian facility in the region for the games.
The Indonesian government hopes that these expenses will pay off when visitors come to the country for the games. It is expected that the 2018 Asian Games will bring in visitors that would spend up to a total of US$245 million during their stay.
However, whether all these investments will bring any benefits in the long-run to Jakarta and Palembang remains to be seen. There are also concerns whether the expensive upgrades to all the various sporting venues will be fully utilized in the future.
Spending this much on the Asian Games also brings into question Indonesia’s fiscal sense. While the economy is growing, Indonesia is facing problems funding its other infrastructure projects. Spending billions for the Asian Games could take away meaningful investment from more important infrastructure projects.
Apart from the Game & infrastructure government has selected 3 among Indonesia’s many unique wildlife as mascots, to simultaneously promote these for their protection and conservation.
1. Bhin bhin, the enchanting colorful Bird of Paradise that is endemic to Papua and Raja Ampat
2. Atung : the Bawean deer, that is now found only on this tiny island off the city of Surabaya, and
3. Kaka : the one-horned Javan Rhino, now only found in the protected Ujung Kulon National Park, at the east-most corner of Java.
Together they symbolise Indonesia’s diversity in culture as well as in wildlife. Bhin bhin the Bird of Paradise stands for Strategy; Atung the Bawean Deer stands for Speed and a fighting spirit to never-give-up ; while Kaka the one-horned rhino stands for strength and power: all qualities expected in athletes competing in Asian Games 2018 that will be opened today evening.
Organisers are hoping the 2018 edition, jointly hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra, can surpass the success of the 1962 Games, the last to be held in Indonesia.
