"Three key areas to be prioritized for the Asian Games are infrastructure, implementation, and achievements," Kalla noted.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla led a meeting here on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the Asian Games XVII to be held in 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra Province.

The meeting was held at the office of the Youth and Sports Ministry here on Wednesday.

"Three key areas to be prioritized for the Asian Games are infrastructure, implementation, and achievements," Kalla noted here on Wednesday.

The Asian Games preparatory meeting was part of the initiative of the vice president, acting as the chairman of the steering committee for the 2018 Asian Games, to hold meetings on a rotating basis.

The preparatory meeting was attended by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, and Chairman of the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee Erick Thohir.

During the meeting, Minister Nahrawi revealed that the sporting event will be followed by the Indonesian team.

The minister also highlighted the readiness of the venues in Jakarta and Palembang.

On the occasion, Minister Nahrawi conveyed strategic measures to record achievements during the implementation of the Asian Games.

The strategic steps include the management and development of athletes, intensification of training and testing, as well as training abroad.

Indonesia will be hosting the Asian Games XVII from August 18 to September 2, 2018, and will feature at least 42 sports events.

Indonesia had earlier targeted to finish eighth in the 2018 Asian Games, the biggest sporting event.

"We target to finish eighth or 10th in the 2018 Asian Games. We should win 15 gold medals to achieve the target," Maharani affirmed.

However, the senior minister expressed hope that the Indonesian athletes would be able to win more gold medals.

"Indonesia, as the host of the 2018 Asian Games, should be able to showcase more achievements," the minister remarked.

She reiterated that the Youth and Sports Ministry, a task force assigned to prepare the athletes, and the Indonesian Olympic Committee will constantly coordinate to prepare the athletes for the event.

Prior to the implementation of the Asian Games, the trial event will be held in Oct and Nov 2017. The event will involve 10 to 15 participating countries and feature 10 Olympic sports.

The trial event is expected to ascertain Indonesias readiness to host the 2018 Asian Games, in terms of infrastructure and athletes.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017