Solo (ANTARA) - Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali, is optimistic that the 2022 ASEAN Para Games (APG) XI in Solo, Central Java, would run smoothly based on his review of the venue and Indonesian athletes' preparations.

"After reviewing the preparation of several arenas and the 2022 APG XI athletes in Solo, I am sure the event will be successful," Amali stated in Solo on Monday.

The minister later noted that Indonesia will host the 2022 APG XI in Solo from July 30 to August 6.

During his review, Amali was accompanied by Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who concurrently serves as chairman of the Indonesia ASEAN Para Games Organizing Committee (INASPOC), Chairman of the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Senny Marbun, and Deputy Chairman of the Chief de Mission (CDM) of the Indonesian contingent for APG XI Prihatin.

They visited the athletics arena at Manahan Stadium, tennis court at Manahan Complex, boccia arena at the Sebelas Maret University (UNS) FKOR Sports Hall, goalball arena at the UNS Sports Hall, and Cerebral Palsy (CP) Football venue at the UNS Stadium.

"We thank the Surakarta mayor and the Surakarta city government for their extraordinary efforts in preparing the 2022 APG XI," Amali remarked.

The minister said the central government, especially President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), hoped that the second APG in Solo would be implemented successfully, with help from the regional government and also the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that assisted in the venue infrastructure preparations.

"I think this will increase our optimism. By God's will, Indonesia can become a good organizer and achieve a good result," the minister remarked.

Amali also conveyed Indonesia's readiness to welcome the arrival of APG participants from Southeast Asian countries.

Meanwhile, Chairman of INASPOC, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, stated that the venues and athletes were ready for APG XI. The committee was currently focusing on training volunteers and preparing the APG torch fire parade as well as the APG ceremonial opening ceremony.

"Thank you for trusting our city as the APG host for the second time, previously in 2011 and now in 2022," Raka remarked.

The 2022 APG XI committee has readied 14 sports arenas: athletics at the Solo Manahan Stadium, boccia (UNS FKOR GOR), archery (Kota Barat Field), judo (Tirtonadi Convention Hall), weightlifting (Solo Paragon Hotel), swimming (Jatidiri Semarang Sports Hall), table tennis (Solo Techno Park), court tennis (Manahan Solo), chess (Dwangsa Solo Hotel), goalball (UNS Sports Hall), badminton (UMS Edutorium), CP football (UNS Stadium), Basketball (Sritex Sports Hall), and sitting volleyball (UTP Sports Hall).

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Translator: Bambang Dwi M, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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