T

he Jakarta administration will cooperate with the management of Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta to prepare for the 2018 Asian Games, which Jakarta will co-host with Bandung in West Java and Palembang in South Sumatra.

Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama said that the city would build several sports facilities at the Halim Perdanakusuma complex.

'€œIn preparation for the Asian Games, we will develop several facilities at the Halim Perdanakusuma complex. For example, we will build a soccer field and develop jogging tracks in the complex,'€ Ahok told reporters at City Hall in Central Jakarta on Thursday.

He added that the city would also develop an urban forest in the complex in order to increase the amount of green space in Jakarta. Ahok said that the facilities would initially be used for Asian Games participants but would be opened for public use after the games.

'€œAfter the Asian Games are completed, all residents may use the facilities. The military will also use the facilities for physical exercise. This way, the facilities that we build will not go to waste,'€ he said.

The complex has already has a golf course, called Padang Golf Halim. The complex is a mix of residential areas and several other facilities like a function hall, hospitals and schools.

Ahok went on that Halim Perdanakusuma Airport would later be used for some of the athletes'€™ departures and arrivals, as well as their logistical requirements. The airport will be guarded with the help of the National Police, he said.

Further, the former Bangka Belitung regent said that the city, in cooperation with a number of private developers, would also build sports-specific athlete facilities. '€œFor example, we will develop a wushu center in Pantai Indah Kapuk in North Jakarta. The wushu center will have a training and leisure area and a dorm where the athletes can stay,'€ Ahok said, adding that the city would also develop a number of similar facilities to accommodate athletes of all sports.

Ahok said that the city would also develop nine reservoirs in the Halim Perdanakusuma complex, which would function as a water catchment area to ease flooding in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Halim Perdanakusuma Airport head of base operations Maj. Setiawan said that the airport fully supported the city administration'€™s efforts.

'€œWe appreciate the city administration'€™s support and assistance in helping us develop the Halim Perdanakusuma complex [...] Hopefully the facilities provided by the city administration will be useful not only for the military but also residents,'€ Setiawan told reporters.

Separately, Youth and Sports Agency head Ratiyono said the city would develop and renovate a total of 22 sports-specific athlete facilities across Jakarta, funded by the city and private developers.

'€œFor example, we will renovate the track and athletics facility at Velodrome Stadium in East Jakarta. We will conduct massive renovations on all existing facilities,'€ Ratiyono told reporters recently.

He went on that the city would also build a number of new sports centers. '€œWe will also develop new athlete facilities for horse riding, swimming and volleyball, among others,'€ Ratiyono said. He, however, did not mention where the new facilities would be built.

In addition to the facilities at Halim Perdanakusuma and the 22 sports centers, the city currently has several ongoing major infrastructure projects that are targeted to be completed and ready to use by 2018, such as the first route of the MRT system and the revitalization of Old Town in West Jakarta.