A

fter a series of meetings that has been held over the past week, the 2018 Asian Games organizers remain unsure about which sports may be dropped from the tournament.

As a result of financial considerations, Indonesia has proposed reducing the number of sports from 42 to 36. It is still lobbying the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which governs the Asian Games, on the matter. The number of events, however, has been settled at 431.

“Featuring 28 Olympic sports, which were competed in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, is non-negotiable — those sports should all be played,” the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) chief Erick Thohir said on Thursday. The Olympic summer sports include track and field, aquatics, gymnastics, badminton and weightlifting.

Therefore, the six sports that may be cut will probably be the less popular ones — either in the host country or in certain participating countries.

Cricket and kabaddi — both are team sports popular in India — as well as surfing, skateboarding, roller skating, sambo and jujitsu are among the sports under review by the OCA.

“Cricket and kabaddi both represent an area in Asia that overlaps quite a bit. We are, however, still waiting for the official decision from the OCA [if they will be left out of the 2018 Asian Games],” said Erick, who also chairs the Indonesian Olympic Committee (IOC).

For the host, reducing the number of sports could be the answer to the budget cut to Rp 4.5 trillion (US$337.6 million) in state funding from the initial Rp 8.7 trillion.

The OCA has the main authority to make decisions on how the quadrennial event will be presented. A host country, however, has the privilege of lobbying the Asian organization on various matters to seek benefits from the multisport extravaganza.

Erick admitted that Indonesia is walking a difficult path ahead of the Games. He preferred not to discuss the problems, however, saying that getting to host the big event was a “rare opportunity”.

“South Korea needed three years to prepare for the Incheon Games in 2014. We only have 15 to 16 months left before D-day.

“With time limitations, the organizers have no course other than putting in an extraordinary effort to make the Games a complete success,” he added.

The 2018 Asian Games will be Indonesia’s second opportunity to host the tournament, after hosting it in 1961.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has signed a presidential regulation that, among other things, settles issues relating to financing.

This means Inasgoc is now allowed to receive Rp 500 billion in funding from the government to really start working for the Games.

“We’re expecting to start receiving the money by the middle of next month,” said Erick.