Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - Thousands of students and residents of Denpasar lined up along the route covered by the 2018 Asian Games torch relay to welcome the flame enthusiastically, Tuesday.

Most students held the Red and White national flag of Indonesia and chanted "Asian Games, Asia Games" while greeting the torch touring 53 cities and districts in 18 provinces across Indonesia, from July 18 to August 17, 2018.

On the previous day, the torch was kept for a night at the Tampang Siring Palace after being taken around Gianyar District. On Tuesday morning, District Head of Gianyar Ketut Rochineng handed over the torch to Denpasar Mayor Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra, who later presented it to the local organizing committee of the relay.

The torch relay covered several tourist attractions in Bali and the flame will be kept overnight at the Garuda Wisnu Kencana House in Badung District on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday morning, the relay will proceed to Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara Province, aboard a plane.

The torch relay of the largest multi-sport event, held every four years in Asia, began from Yogyakarta on July 18 and will end on Aug 17 in Jakarta, a day before the Asian Games 2018 to be officially opened by President Joko Widodo.

The 18 thousand-kilometer relay covers Solo, Central Java Province; Blitar, Malang, Probolinggo, and Banyuwangi in East Java; Gilimanuk, Kuta, and Denpasar in Bali Province; Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara; Raja Ampat and Sorong in West Papua; Makassar in South Sulawesi; Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan; Banda Aceh in Aceh Province; Lake Toba in North Sumatra; Pekanbaru in Riau; Bukit Tinggi in West Sumatra; Jambi, Palembang, Banyuasin, and Prabumulih in South Sumatra; Bandar Lampung in Lampung; Serang in Banten; and Purwakarta, Bandung, Garut, Cianjur, and Bogor in West Java Province, among others.

The 18th Asian Games will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2, 2018.
Reported by I Komang Suparta
(F001/INE)
24-07-2018 13:19:39

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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