"Let us make this Asia`s largest multi-sport event a success, and let us support our athletes, so that they can grab medals for the country," she noted while addressing participants of the Ministry of Education and Culture`s healthy walk here on Saturday.
With some five thousand participants, mostly comprising school students from the capital city and the ministry`s employees, the event was held for promoting the 2018 Asian Games in the public sphere.
In the flag-off session, Maharani also introduced the 18th Asian Games` mascots -- Bhin Bhin, a bird of paradise; Atung, a deer; and Kaka, a one-horned rhino.
The 2018 Asian Games will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra Province, from Aug 18 to Sept 2. It is the second time for Indonesia to host this international multi-sport event after Jakarta was selected as the venue for the Asian sporting event for the first time in 1962.
By virtue of its hosting of the 2018 games, the country aims to secure a place among the top 10 largest sporting events.
Some 45 countries, including China, will participate in the games and will feature 462 events in 40 sports, of which 32 are Olympic sports and eight are non-Olympic events.
The Olympic sports are Aquatics, Athletics, Fencing, Weightlifting, Basketball, Handball, Badminton, Baseball/Softball, Cycling, Equestrian, Golf, Wrestling, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Canoeing and Kayaking, Sailing, Shooting, Modern Pentathlon, Archery, Sport Climbing, Rowing, Rugby, Gymnastics, Roller Skating, Football, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Boxing, Triathlon, and Volleyball.
The non-Olympic sports are Bowling; Bridge; Cricket; Kabaddi; Martial Arts, including Jujitsu, Kurash, Pencak Silat, Sambo, and Wushu; Mechanical Sports, such as Paragliding and Jet skiing; Squash; and Sepak Takraw.
Indonesia has set a target of ranking among the biggest 10 in the event by winning a minimum of 16 gold medals.
Reporting by Aditya Ramadhan
Editing Rahmad Nasution, Sri Haryati
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
