The opening of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar
In April, Vietnam said economic difficulties would prevent the country from hosting the next edition of the Asian Games. It was an announcement that sent Asiad officials scrambling but it looks like they’ve found their savior. Today, it was announced that Jakarta would be stepping in as the new host of the Games, which is the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games.
The announcement was made by Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah earlier today. He said Indonesia will host the Games in 2018 rather than 2019.
There had been plans to move the games to 2019 to help Asian athletes better prepare for the 2020 Olympics and to avoid coinciding with 2018’s Winter Olympics and World Cup. But with Indonesia’s next Presidential elections also set to take place during 2019, it looks like those plans will be scrapped.
Indonesia was considered a strong contender to replace Vietnam, as it was the second choice in the original selection process, although that bid focused on Surabaya as the main host city. Due to time and infrastructure concerns, Jakarta will be the main host of the games although Palembang will host some of the events as well. Jakarta hosted the games once before, in 1962.
Speaking two days before the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Sheikh Ahmad has said Indonesia was ready to step in.
“In less than one month, Indonesia was there ready to host it,” the official, who is also head of the Association of National Olympic Committees, told Reuters.
“We have solved the issues with other cities, we have a good agreement – let’s leave it to Indonesia. Because it was the competitor to Vietnam at the last vote,” he added. “So Indonesia has to have the priority to host.”
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The decision is not completely finalized, it still has to be ratified by the OCA General Assembly when they meet in Incheon on Saturday.
