TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 2018 Asian Games organizer INASGOC confirmed that there will be 16,000 athletes and official members that will participate in the 2018 Asian Games following the end of the registration period on June 30. This is the largest number of participation in the event’s history.
“There are 11,000 athletes based on our latest records. Meanwhile, with added officials the total number of participants are around 16,000 people. That number has exceeded our target,” said INASGOC Chairman Erick Thohir on Thursday, July 5.
The highest ever recorded previously took place during the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou China that saw 9,501 people participating in 42 sporting events. Meanwhile, the 2014 Icheon Asian Games saw 9,501 participants.
Erick believes that the increasing number of participants compared to the official INASGOC prediction is the sign of trust from the 45 Asian Games contingents toward Indonesia hosting the sport.
“We have prepared additional caterings, buses, venue seats, and other variables in reaction to the 20 percent participation increase,” said Erick.
The 2018 Asian Games that will be held in Jakarta and Palembang will commence on August 18, 2018, and will end on September 2, 2018. This is the second occasion Indonesia hosted Asia’s largest sporting event after initially hosing it in the 1962 Asian Games.
ANTARA | OCASIA
