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Creating a legacy from the 2018 Asian Games
Below are some of the steps needed to maximize legacy for Jakarta and Palembang:
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The Asian Games countdown clock on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
F
rom my last trip to Jakarta a few weeks ago, I was able to feel a sense of excitement of the approaching Asian Games — the posters and the beaming smiles advertised the opening date of Aug. 18. There was also the traffic jams in the Pulomas area, East Jakarta where the light rapid transit (LRT) Line 1 is under construction.
I decided to do a very unscientific survey of the mood of the public covering a broad age grouping and demographic. Comments varied widely from — feeling a sense of national pride that Indonesia was able to host a major sporting event; looking forward to winning medals in Badminton and football; the Games were costing too much — money that could have been more wisely spent by government; failure to sufficiently engage/inform the public and the dread of the likely traffic jams during the games. I can recall very similar feelings in the lead up to the London Olympics in 2012.
What my interviewees failed to mention was the creation of a positive legacy from the considerable investment being made in the Asian Games. That was surprising; it had been a big issue in London from the outset not just by the Olympic Delivery Authority but also for the national, city and local governments as well as the general public.
The International Olympic Committee has in the last decade been pushing host cities to improve legacy outcomes. Regeneration of the Lower Lea valley was a fundamental part of London’s winning bid. Whilst there has been some disappointment that London 2012 has not generated increased sporting participation amongst the public, it is heartening to see major new developments or reuse of facilities taking place on the site including private rented and social housing, new culture and education facilities, public buildings and commercial development. These are creating thousands of new jobs in what was a poorer part of the city.
