The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said Sunday that Indonesia’s plans for the 2018 Asian Games looked good on paper and urged the nation to make them a reality soon.
Indonesia was awarded the games in September 2014 after the original host Vietnam withdrew due to economic problems. But the late decision meant it had only four years to prepare instead of the usual six.
OCA officials visited Jakarta over the weekend to check preparations.
“They present us (with) a good plan for the preparation for the game, but I told them the plan is on paper,” said OCA vice president Wei Jizhong.
“We need everything (to progress) from paper to the ground,” Wei said after the coordination committee meeting in Jakarta.
OCA accepted the submitted progress report because it has a clear deadline for each project, he added.
Preparations have been slow, including in the development of the velodrome and the athletes’ village as well as the renovation of some sport venues.
However, the government aimed to complete the work by August 2017, the deputy chief of the Indonesia Olympic Committee, Muddai Madang, told AFP.
Indonesia staged the 2011 Southeast Asian Games but ran into problems, with some venues not ready on time and a stampede at the football final which killed two people.
Jakarta will host most events at the 2018 games, with a handful of others set to take place in the city of Palembang on Sumatra island.
Indonesia last staged the Asian Games in 1962, in Jakarta. – Agence France-Presse
