"The public enthusiastically welcomed the relay passing through Bogor road, Pondok Gede, and TMII. Some 30 thousand people lined up along the roads to view the rally," East Jakarta Mayor Muhammad Anwar said here on Wednesday.
Some five thousand junior and senior high school students were also among the crowd welcoming the torch relay.
A number of students and local artists performed traditional dances and cultural attractions such as Reog Ponorogo and marching band to highlight the event.
The torch relay in East Jakarta started from Kramat Jati. David Jacobs, a national athlete with disability, held the torch.
After arriving in TMII and staying in the recreational park for one hour, the torch was handed over to Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry Siti Nurbaya.
From TMII, the torch relay continued to TB Simatupang road, and the flame was presented to Public Works and Public Housing Minister Budi Karya Sumadi for a parade in South Jakarta Municipality.
The month-long torch relay covers a total distance of over 18 thousand kilometers, touring 53 cities and districts in 18 provinces across Indonesia.
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.
The torch relay began in Yogyakarta on July 17 and will end on Aug 17 in Jakarta, a day before the Asian Games 2018 is 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.
The 18th Asian Games will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra Province, from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018.
Reporting by Cornea Khairany
Editing by Fardah Assegaf
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
