Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly and Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri have joined the Asian Games torch relay in North Jakarta, Thursday afternoon.

Laoly carried the torch from the office of the North Jakarta mayor to the next checkpoint, while Dhakiri run to the finish line at the Lake Sunter police office, Junaedi, deputy mayor of the North Jakarta municipality, noted.

"At the mayor`s office, the North Jakarta mayor passed on the torch to Minister Laoly," he said.

Several hobby communities such as the Vespa Community and the cycling community have also joined the relay.

The route of the torch relay in North Jakarta covers a total distance of 9.3 kilometers. The torch carried by 20 people, including the two ministers, alternately.

On the previous day, the Asian Games` torch relay was enlivened by art performances when it arrived at the Indonesian Park In Miniature (TMII) in East Jakarta.

"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 a marching band was featured at the event.

The torch relay in East Jakarta started in Kramat Jati. David Jacobs, a national athlete with a disability, was given the torch here.

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.

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 18th Asian Games will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra Province, from Aug 18 to Sept 2.

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

Reporting by Cornea Khairany
Editing by Fardah

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Bustanuddin
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