The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) met with the organising committee of the Asian Para Games (INAPGOC) in Jakarta on 3rd and 4th August for the final co-ordination commission meeting ahead of the Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games which will take place from 6–13 October.
In a packed two days, APC heard updates from all the functional areas including marketing, broadcast, transport, ceremonies and sport and gave their guidance on what final preparations should take place over the next 62 days.
APC CEO Tarek Souei addressed a press conference at the close of the meeting and said, “We have heard about the great progress made since our last meeting in April and also since the successful test events conducted in July. The organising committee are working hard to deliver fantastic Games that will make the people of Indonesia proud and will create a legacy for disabled people in this country.”
Souei and INAPGOC Chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari outlined that they learnt that around 1200 athletes will be classified during the Games and whilst this is a large number, both organisations are working hard to successfully deliver this vital activity.
Souei continued: “Classification is the bedrock of parasport and we are pleased that these Games will give so many athletes the opportunity to get their international classification. In this way, these Games are hopefully an important stepping stone in their sporting career – it is an important legacy of the Games.”
Another legacy that was highlighted was the training of officials and classifiers. Prior to hosting these Games, Indonesia had no International Technical Officials or national classifiers in any sport but this has now changed.
Souei concluded, “The Paralympic movement is enjoying unprecedented levels of success from London through to Rio and PyeongChang with the bar being raised higher with each successive Games. We too are expecting great things from Indonesia 2018 and I’m sure many records will be broken and a new standard for regional Games will be set.”
