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Ahok worried, China may replace Jakarta as Asian Games host
Jakarta Governor Basuki âAhokâ Tjahaja Purnama
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Jakarta Governor Basuki âAhokâ Tjahaja Purnama. (Kompas.com/Filbert Tanuwijaya) (Kompas.com/Filbert Tanuwijaya)
Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama. (Kompas.com/Filbert Tanuwijaya)
Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama has expressed his worries that China may replace Jakarta as the host of the 2018 Asian Games, particularly if the city fails to develop supporting infrastructure, including accommodate facilities for the thousands of athletes.
According to Ahok, China is better prepared than Jakarta to host the games because Jakarta still lacks much of the necessary supporting infrastructure. 'China is ready to replace Jakarta. We are doubted. It is yellow light for us,' Ahok said at City Hall on Thursday as reported by kompas.com.
Ahok met with members of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) earlier on Thursday, who informed him that the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) would visit Jakarta and Palembang to asses the two cities' readiness to host the biggest sports event in Asia, which is held every four years.
Ahok told KOI chairman Erick Thohir about the city administration's plan to develop facilities to accommodate the athletes.
Ahok said that he had sought help from Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Cabinet Secretary Minister Pratikno to lobby the House of Representatives to allow the development of an athletes' village on government land in Kemayoran that was formerly the city's international airport.
The Jakarta city administration's plan to develop athlete accommodation on the land was rejected by House Commission II that oversees government affairs, as the land was already allocated for low-cost apartments.
Meanwhile, Erick said that many sports venues in Jakarta needed to be renovated. 'I think that Indonesia needs to renovate its sports venues so that we will be more ready to host any international sports events,' he added. (bbn)(+)
