The Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games Organising Committee (INAPGOC) marked 100 days-to-go for the October 6 to 13 multi-sport Games with a colourful celebration at the Para Athlete Village, Kemayoran in Jakarta, on Thursday.
Athletes, organisers, volunteers and celebrities gathered on the day and shared their hopes for the upcoming Asian Para Games to be held in Jakarta. Indonesian para cycling athlete, M. Fadli was amongst those present and shared his experience of the event. Organisers hope that the Games will inspire Indonesians and make Jakarta a more- friendly nation for people with impairment.
Asian Paralympic Committee President, Majid Rashed, commented: “Staging these Games is an important part of our plan to grow the Paralympic movement in Asia. The organisers share our vision and are working tirelessly to make these Games a huge success.”
On Wednesday, the test events for the Games kicked off with the badminton competition as part of the 100 days-to-go celebration. The test events, which include table-tennis, swimming, athletics and wheelchair basketball, will mostly feature Indonesian athletes with the prime focus being the testing of venues, infrastructure and facilities. A total of 374 will take part in the events.
The table tennis competition however will see athletes participating from 13 countries as this serves as a qualification tournament for the Jakarta 2018 Asian Para Games and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. This will be held from July 1-3 at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex. Wheelchair basketball, an invitational event, will see Thailand and Malaysia competing against the host nation.
INAPGOC chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari said there is a lot of hope and expectation from Indonesians on the Games. And “thus everyone is working hard to make it one of the successful Games. We are supported by the government. We are confident of delivering a successful Para Games”.
This October, around 3,000 athletes are expected to battle it out for the coveted medals in 18 sports and as many as 8000 volunteers are planned to be deputed during the Games.
The event will the third edition of the Asian Para Games and will build on the legacy of 2014 Incheon and 2010 Guangzhou.
