Bandarlampung, Lampung (ANTARA News) - A number of people, including students, were lining up along main roads of Bandarlampung, the capital of Lampung Province, to welcome the 2018 Asian Games torch relay on Wednesday morning.

"I have been standing here since six o`clock in the morning. I have been told to wait in front of the MBK mall to see the Asian Games torch," Rahmad, a senior high school student, said here, Wednesday.

Rahmat, who likes sports, said he was happy that his school was involved in welcoming the Asian Games torch.

Several mosques using loudspeakers in Bandarlampung called local inhabitants to come out and welcome the torch relay passing main roads of the city.

The Asian Games torch relay tours 53 cities and districts in 18 Indonesian provinces, covering a total distance of over 18 thousand kilometers.

The torch relay began in Yogyakarta on July 17, and will end on Aug 17 in Jakarta, a day before the Asian Games 2018 to be officially opened by President Joko Widodo.

The torch`s route includes 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, South Sumatra Province, from August 18 to September 2, 2018.

A total of 16,920 athletes and officials from 45 Asian countries have been registered for the Games. Overall, more than 11 thousand athletes will vie for medals in 40 sports and 67 disciplines.
Reporting by Triono Subagyo
Editing by Fardah, Otniel

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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