Indonesian president calls for speeding up Asian Games preparations

Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday ordered the authorities to step up preparations for the Asian Games in 2018.

Widodo held a cabinet meeting on Friday discussing the preparations for the continental sport event, reports Xinhua.

"Please do not undertake it in 'business as usual' way, speed it up, find breakthrough," Widodo said at the State Palace.

"I really hope the successful in hosting of the Asian Games in 2018," he stressed.

The president puts a target to address all the problems about the sport venues next year.

"I ask for well preparation on all facilities, (and) acceleration of preparation of all infrastructures for competition and the guesthouses for athletes and officials," he said.

The president also reminded that airports and other transport facilities should be also well prepared.

The 18th Asian Games are to be held in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and the province of South Sumatra, West Java, and Banten, according to the presidential office.

Indonesia has only four years as compared to the usual six years for the preparation because the country was awarded the games in September 2014 following the withdrawal of original host Vietnam due to economic problem.