"Hopefully, the flame of the torch will enlighten the spirit of athletes to win each competition," he said.
Edy, accompanied by North Sumatra Vice Governor H Musa Rajekshah said he warmly welcomed the arrival of Chief of the Indonesia Asian Para Games Organizing Committee Raja Sapta Oktohari and the ambassador of the Asian Para Games` torch in Medan.
"This is a historical day for North Sumatra where the Asian Para Games` torch will be relayed," Edy said.
He said North Sumatra is home to different ethnic groups and has a high level of tolerance for adherents of different faiths.
The province is also friendly for people with disabilities as reflected by its athletes` success to rank third in the National Paralympic Week 2016 held in West Java, he added.
The Asian Para Games` torch relay was started with the lighting of the torch from the Mrapen eternal flame in Grobogan district, Central Java. The torch was later be taken to Solo (Central Java), Ternate (North Maluku), Makassar (South Sulawesi), and several other cities including Pontianak (West Kalimantan) and Medan (North Sumatra).
The Asian Para Games 2018 is expected to bring together 2.8 thousand athletes and 1.8 thousand officials from 41 National Paralympic Committee (NPC) member countries. They will compete in 18 sports, including basketball, volleyball, fencing, table tennis, swimming, shooting, judo, cycling, weightlifting, bowling, badminton, handball, and tennis.
Indonesia aims to finish in the top five at the Asian Para Games 2018 to be held in Jakarta from Oct 6 to 13.
The country ranked ninth in the Asian Para Games 2014 held in Incheon, South Korea.
Reporting by Evalisa Siregar
Editing by Suharto, Andi Abdussalam
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
