Olympic Council of Asia praises Indonesia's Asiad preparations

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has praised Indonesia's preparations for the upcoming Asian Games, a top official of the council said on Wednesday.

"Indonesia has done an excellent job in preparation for the Games and achieved a great deal in a short space of time," OCA President Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said in a statement issued by the council, reports Xinhua news agency.

Al-Sabah expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the preparation of the multi-regional sport event.

"On behalf of the Asian NOC (National Olympic Committees) family, I would like to thank President Joko Widodo, Indonesian Vice-President and Chair of the Asian Games Steering Committee Jusuf Kalla and President of the Indonesian Olympic Committee and Indonesia Asian Games Organising Committee (INASGOC) Erick Thohir for their dedication and commitment to staging a world-class Asian Games," he said.

The OCA latest data reveals that a total of 11,300 athletes from 45 countries and regions are set to take part in the Games, which will be held from August 18 to September 2 in the capital Jakarta and the South Sumatran city of Palembang.

The athletes will compete in 465 events across 40 sports and 67 disciplines.

To support the Games, Indonesia has built a new airport terminal, new sports venues, two athletes' villages and a new light rail transport in Palembang city within the last three years, according to the OCA.

Indonesia was awarded the Games in September 2014, following the withdrawal of original host country Vietnam over economic concerns.

--IANS

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