Jakarta, (ANTARA News)- Thousands of people took part in a Momo parade held in the National Monument (Monas) area, here on Sunday, to promote the upcoming Asian Para Games 2018.

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Chairman of the Indonesian Asian Para Games Organizing Committee (INAPGOC) Raja Sapta Oktohari were present in the event.

Those participating in the parade included Indonesian athletes who will take part in the Third Asian Para Games, several people with disabilities, students of the Indonesian police academy, Jakarta students and a number of officials.

Minister Nahrawi said the Asian Para Games is not just a momentum to win medals but also to promote equality for people with disability.

He also said that the spirit of Momo, the mascot of the Asian Para Games 2018, is the spirit of national unity.

In addition to promoting the Asian Para Games, the Momo parade was also aimed at improving the public awareness of equality for people with disability.

Raja Sapta Oktohari said some 10 thousand people participated in the Momo parade, a significant increase from the INAPGOC`s target of some four thousand people.

"It shows that the public support the Asian Para Games enthusiastically," he said.

He hoped that the Asian Para Games in Jakarta would be better than the previous ones, respectively in Guangzhou, China, and Incheon, South Korea.

The Asian Para Games 2018 will be organized in Jakarta on Oct 6-13.

The Asian Para Games will be attended by 2,800 athletes, 1,800 officials, as well as 500 media outlets from home and across 41 countries abroad.

Athletes will compete in a total of 18 sports branches in the event including basketball, volleyball, fencing, table tennis, futsal, swimming, shooting, judo, cycling, chess, weightlifting, bowling, badminton, running, boccia, archery, handball, and tennis.



Reporting by Imam Santoso
Editing by Fardah Assegaf, Bustanudin

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
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