The inspiring but less celebrated 2018 Asian Para Games ended on Saturday, leaving those who were touched by the athletes’ victories and struggles with a warm feeling in their hearts.

Despite facing technical glitches in the first half of the week, the 3rd Asian Para Games arrived at the finish line on a positive note.

Asian Paralympic Committee president Majid Rashed delivered the praise from the Asian Paralympic community to host Indonesia, for staging the eye-opening Para Games in Jakarta.

“INAPGOC [Indonesia Asian Para Games 2018 Organizing Committee] has been making it all work in a very short amount of time. They delivered the biggest Para Games ever and they broke all records,” Rashed told the media on Saturday.

In less than 15 months, INAPGOC prepared supporting systems and facilities for athletes, the media and spectators, especially for those with disabilities.

“We need to congratulate INAPGOC and give them big thanks”.

“They worked professionally and really know the importance of hosting the Para Games with 43 participating teams — the biggest number so far — with the most spectators and media people”.

“They’ve worked day and night to achieve a successful Games. Terima kasih [thank you],” said Rashed.

INAPGOC chief Raja “Okto” Sapta Oktohari said as of Saturday morning, they had recorded that 500,000 people had watched the Games in venues across Jakarta.

“The number of spectators kept increasing every day, especially for the venues in the Gelora Bung Karno [sports complex]. [On Friday] night, the spectator numbers reached 432,832 people. Maybe [on Saturday] it has reached over 500,000,” he said.

Okto also said they had received complaints on transportation, the Games’ operations and catering on the first day of the event, but they handled the problems immediately. The organizers said they strived to improve the Games’ operations up to the very last day.

“We have 2,831 athletes with disabilities coming to Jakarta for the Games, and most of them said they were satisfied with our services,” he added.

Yessie Margareta, 29, an employee at a private company in Jakarta who watched the swimming competitions with six friends on Wednesday, lauded the organizers for providing good services, such as the shuttle service, ticketing and ushers in the venues.

“I bought seven tickets for my friends and I, and I could easily buy them online a day before the swimming competitions. And if I have questions about directions or something around the venues, there were many friendly and helpful volunteers.

“I just hope [the organizers] did better on promoting the Games so people can watch the event from day one,” Yessie told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Until we meet again: Volunteers get ready for a flag procession on Saturday evening as part of the 2018 Asian Para Games closing ceremony held in Gelora Bung Karno’s Madya Stadium in Senayan in Central Jakarta.(INAPGOC/Rakhmawaty La'lang)

The 2018 Para Games, the largest multisport Para event in Asia, ran from Oct. 6 to 13, just a month after the 2018 Asian Games.

Despite the tight schedule, athletes and spectators applauded the organizers for pulling off the event without major flaws.

Spectator Cepi Gunawan, who is a wheelchair user, said he came all the way from his hometown Bandung in West Java to watch the Para Games in the venues. During his stay in Jakarta, Cepi said he saw no problems in accessing the venues. He went on to say that he had experienced no hassle in using the shuttle buses, restrooms or other public facilities while he was at the GBK sports complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

“The shuttle buses and venues were all equipped with ramps and slopes, making all the facilities accessible for people in wheelchairs. And if I need help from volunteers, they were always there and ready to assist me. I can basically be independent in this complex,” he told the Post on Thursday.

Majid expressed hope that the Games’ spirit would remain as its legacy, and that the government improves accessibility and promotes equality for people with disabilities. He also encouraged regional governments to hold similar sports events for young people with disabilities and encourage them to shine.

“I hope [we will see] something beyond the Para Games in Indonesia”.

“I hope there will be a friendlier environment for people with disabilities in the future, not just for the Para Games. This is the Games’ legacy, I hope the nation will hold onto it,” he said.