Fireworks explode over the Gelora Bung Karno main stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 18, 2018. (Source: AFP)
Indonesia will bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics, President Joko Widodo announced on September 1 following its successful organisation of the 2018 Asian Games (ASIAD).
After talks with President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach and President of the Olympic Council of Asia Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Admed Al-Sabah, President Widodo said that Indonesia has planned to immediately register itself as a candidate for the 2032 Olympics host.
IOC President Thomas Bach was joining the ASIAD 2018 closing ceremony on September 2, giving a chance for Indonesia to propose its hosting of the 2032 Olympics, following Tokyo in 2020, Paris in 2024, and Los Angeles in 2028.
Widodo said the Asian Games, hosted in the cities of Jakarta and Palembang over the past two weeks, have proved the country has the ability to host the world's most prestigious multi-sports event.
"With our experience in hosting the 18th Asian Games, I believe Indonesia will be able to host (an) event at larger scale," Widodo said.
ASIAD 2018 was a success of Indonesia in terms of both sport achievements and economic efficiency. At the event, Indonesia won 98 medals, including 31 golds, the highest number that a Southeast Asian country has gained in an ASIAD.
It is estimated that the games contributed 22 trillion rupiah (about 1.6 billion USD) to the Indonesian economy, including 2.4 trillion rupiah from visitors’ spending.
VNA
