Gajah Mada and Datu Banua Lima were famous warlords of the Majapahit Kingdom and the Tanjung Puri Kingdom, respectively.
Their names will always be remembered for fulfilling the king`s orders bravely without caring for their own lives.
In 2018, the drums of war is being played in the archipelago. The war is titled the 18th Asian Games, where Indonesia was appointed as the host by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in 2014.
However, the war is not about blood and weapons but about maintaining the pride of the nation.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo decided to uphold four missions at the 2018 Asian Games, namely a successful organizer, a successful performance, a successful economy, and a successful administration.
The president established the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC), chaired by head of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Erick Thohir, through Presidential Decree No. 12 of 2015 on the National Committee of the Asian Games XVIII Year 2018.
The chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) officially became the government`s warlord for the 2018 Asian Games.
Based on the decree, the INASGOC must prepare and organize the 18th Asian Games in DKI Jakarta, South Sumatra, West Java, and Banten Provinces.
"We have some challenges in organizing the big event. Therefore, all elements of the Indonesian society should unite to support the Asian Games 2018," Thohir stated.
Experiences
Thohir was immediately confronted by a series of challenges. The warlord entered the combat zone with the minimum weaponry.
The government could not cover the entire funds for organizing the 2018 Asian Games. Thohir and his colleagues at INASGOC also sought for ways to cover 20 percent of the total budget from sponsors.
However, Thohir is a person with a lot of experience as he hails from a family of entrepreneurs.
Since childhood, he has witnessed the difficulties in maintain the family`s company.
Teddy Thohir, father of Thohir, sent him to the United States (US) to study at the Glendale University, from where he obtained a bachelor`s degree.
Furthermore, he attained a master`s degree from the University of California.
Upon his return to Indonesia, together with his colleagues, he built his own business empire. In the early 2000s, he also pioneered a holding company engaged in the media business that covers television, radio, online media, and newspapers.
He was very fond of sports and owns a basketball team, Satria Muda.
He is serving as a honorary board member of the Indonesian Basketball Association (PERBASI) from 2015 to 2019.
He has also served as the President of Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) since 2006.
He was a FIBA board member, Chef De Mission of Indonesia Contingent for the Olympic Games London 2012, and Chairman of National Olympic Committee for 2015-2019.
Meanwhile, In 2011, Thohir became part of the consortia that bought the Philadelphia 76ers.
The consortia included actor Will Smith, his wife Jasa Pinkett Smith, David S Blitzer of the private equity firm Blackstone Group, and Indonesian businessmen Handy Soetedjo.
In 2013, Thohir and Indonesian businessman Rosan Roeslani and Handy Soetedjo took a 70 percent stake in Inter Milan through a capital increase of an undisclosed amount.
Thohir became the first Asian to invest in one of Italy?s football clubs.
Three years later, he became the majority owner of Major League Soccer?s D.C. United.
Furthermore, he was elected as the head of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) for the 2015-2019 period, which prompted him to automatically lead the INASGOC.
Because of his experiences, Thohir could solve the problems and pressures as the chairman of the INASGOC.
The preparations for the upcoming 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang is on track.
The preparation of (the) infrastructure for the Asian Games is also 100 percent ready.
Following this, the Chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah lauded the Indonesian government`s efforts regarding the preparation for the Asian Games 2018.
"Indonesia has made good preparations. A month before the event, Indonesia is ready to welcome Asian guests to celebrate sports and unity," he remarked.
INASGOC-DAGI
The Asian Games 2018 will take place simultaneously in Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, and Palembang, capital of the province of South Sumatra, from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018.
This will be the second time that Indonesia will host the Asian Games. The first one was held in Jakarta in 1962 under president Soekarno.
The 1962 Asian Games were held from Aug 24 to Sept 4, 1962, in Jakarta.
A total of 1,460 athletes, coming from 17 countries, competed in this Asiad, where badminton made its debut.
Soekarno established the Asian Games Council of Indonesia (DAGI) through Presidential Decree No. 113/1959, dated May 11, 1959.
In his book entitled "From Gelora Bung Karno to Gelora Bung Karno" (2004), Julius Pour pointed out that DAGI had main tasks, namely building sports complex facilities, building settlements for Asian Games participants and officers, organizing accommodation for guests and visitors, organizing the Asian Games celebrations, and improving the 4th Asian Games.
The chairman of DAGI was Minister of Education, Teaching and Culture, Priyono, based on Presidential Decree No. 114 /1959, dated May 11, 1959.
The responsibilities of Priyono were similar to Thohir`s duties as the chairman of INASGOC.
In 1962, Indonesia, as an independent country, was 17 years old. The country did not have international standard sports complex facilities.
Therefore, Indonesia established the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, homestead for athletes, and state-owned television station TVRI.
TVRI aired nationally on August 24, 1962 by broadcasting the opening of the fourth Asian Games.
However, Indonesia could organize the 1962 Asian Games very well.
Indonesia also recorded its best performance in the 4th Asian Games. The Red and White contingent managed to become the second-ranked country, by winning 21 gold medals, 26 silvers, and 30 bronzes.
The Indonesian achievement in the 4th Asian Games is expected to be repeated during Asian Games 2018.
Under the command of Thohir, and the oversight of the country`s supreme leader Widodo, Indonesian people should have high hopes in the 2018 Asian Games.
Reporter: Azis Kurmala/Michael Teguh Adi
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
