Surakarta Police head, Senior Commissioner Ade Safri Simanjuntak, said that the officer strength for the closing ceremony will be double compared to the opening ceremony, particularly as President Joko Widodo is expected to attend it.
"Some 2,371 officers have been deployed to secure the APG closing ceremony, double from 1,375 officers deployed for the opening ceremony," Simanjuntak informed.
The projected increase in visitors attending the closing ceremony at the stadium has also been taken into account in the decision to double the number of security officers, he said.
Other security details will remain the same as during the opening ceremony, which was attended by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, he added.
Security arrangements at Manahan Stadium will be divided into three rings within the stadium, the stadium's parking lot, and outside the stadium complex, he disclosed.
Five joint security teams will constantly patrol the area to ensure against security threats during the ceremony, he said.
Simanjuntak affirmed that the authorities will continue to provide security detail for para-athletes, officials, referees, and organizers until they depart from Adisoemarmo Airport, Boyolali.
Meanwhile, secretary general of the Indonesian ASEAN Para Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC), Rima Ferdianto, informed that the closing ceremony will start at 7 p.m. local time (UTC +7).
"The main event of the APG closing ceremony will be the handing over of the APSF flag from the current games' host Indonesia to the next host, Cambodia. Another difference is that while the opening ceremony was attended by Vice President Amin, the closing ceremony will be attended by President Joko Widodo," Ferdianto said.
He confirmed that Cambodia has sent 50 performers who will perform with Indonesian performers.
The health protocols enforced during the ceremony will require visitors to register through the PeduliLindungi application, and restrict the number of visitors to 10 thousand, he added.
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Translator: Bambang Dwi M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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