When Indonesia hosted the fourth edition of the Asian Games in 1962, president Sukarno used the opportunity as a coming-of-age moment for the young nation. The famous Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Hotel Indonesia, Selamat Datang Monument, the Sarinah department store and Semanggi Interchange were built for the Games, and Indonesia was proud to point out that all the mega infrastructure — which is still functional and remains an integral part of the city — was built in only a short period of time.

When they were built, not only did they help transform the image of Jakarta from a big kampung to a cosmopolitan city, they also instilled a sense of pride among Jakartans and Indonesians.

The messages highlighted inwardly and outwardly to the world by Indonesia during the 1962 Games were loud and clear: Indonesia is a developing nation undergoing rapid modernization.