TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Jakarnaval returns to promote Asian Games
Change Size
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan drives a vintage motorcycle with his son Ismail in a sidecar during the opening of the Jakarnaval parade at City Hall on Sunday, July 8. (The Jakarta Post/Rizki Fachriansyah)
T
his year’s Jakarnaval – a parade showcasing traditional cultures and costumes on the streets of Jakarta sponsored by the city administration – kicked off in front of City Hall in Central Jakarta on Sunday, marking a return of the annual event following a two-year hiatus.
Parade participants, consisting of various communities dedicated to cultural preservation, and spectators begun to crowd City Hall’s courtyard hours before Jakarnaval’s official opening ceremony in the afternoon.
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and his deputy Sandiaga Uno made an entrance to the venue by riding vintage motorcycles with sidecars. Anies brought his youngest son Ismail along, while Sandi rode with one of his staff members.
Anies, wearing a white polo shirt, then took to Jakarnaval’s main stage to deliver his opening speech. In addition to expressing his wishes for Sunday’s event, Anies called on Jakartans to help ensure that the capital could successfully host this year’s Asian Games, which will be underway from Aug. 18 until Sept. 2.
“We will prove that Jakarta can be a great host for the Asian Games,” he said. “Let’s make our city nice and clean. The world will be watching us in August since we will host the biggest sporting event in Asia.”
Read also: Tangerang 'arms' police with English ahead of Asian Games
He added that Jakarnaval was held to simultaneously commemorate the capital’s 491st anniversary, as well as to celebrate the upcoming sporting event.
The parade later moved along Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat to reach its destination at the National Monument (Monas), both in Central Jakarta. (rfa/wit)
