REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia was lauded for its success in staging the remarkable opening ceremony of the 18 Asian Games in Jakarta, Saturday. The Times of India said the opening ceremony of the world’s largest multisport event after the Olympics was an explosive start.

Meanwhile, The Gulf, said that Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) set the tone with a video showing him riding a bike through the bylanes of Jakarta and entering the stadium doing stunts. The Gulf described the act was hilarious and left the spectators in splits. However, it triggered enough excitement for the rest of the evening.

ESPN said the opening ceremony night was dazzling. It celebrated host Indonesia's rich heritage and honored its sporting heroes amid a breathtaking display of dance, song, and fireworks. According to ESPN, 'Energy of Asia' explodes at Jakarta.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo enters Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Senayan, Jakarta, Saturday (Aug 18).

The Asian nations are amazing nations that love harmony and peace, Chairman of the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) Erick Thohir said. "Indonesia sees Asia as a continent of amazing diversity, with the highest number of tribes and ethnic groups in the world," Thohir stated at the opening of the 18th Asian Games at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Stadium here on Saturday evening.

Thohir, who was accompanied by the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA's) President, Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah, noted that the Asian nations, with their demographic diversities, have become a dynamic and competitive society.

"Talking about Asia means that we also talk about the diversity of nations. We are all here to celebrate the diversity, to celebrate our differences, to celebrate our humanity, and to channel energy from diverse nations to become a harmonious nation, namely the energy of Asia," Thohir explained.

Chairman of the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) Erick Thohir accompanied by the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA's) President, Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah delivers his speech during the opening of the 18th Asian Games at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Senayan, Jakarta, Saturday (Aug 18).

He said Indonesia could be an example of how people can live side by side peacefully despite having different ethnic and religious backgrounds. He explained that Indonesia has the fourth largest population in the world, which reaches 263 million people, with about 300 groups of ethnicity.

The Indonesian people speak in 700 regional languages and have various religious backgrounds. "The Indonesian nation can live in peace because it is tied to the same national identity, namely Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). Welcome to Indonesia, the Energy of Asia," the INASGOC chairman, who also serves as the chair of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), revealed.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that in the 18th Asian Games, all nations in Asia seek to show kinship between countries. He said that the participants were united to achieve success.

"On behalf of the Indonesian people, I would like to share our pride and honor of having the opportunity to host and receive such special guests from 45 countries," he noted.

After President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah delivered his remark, President Joko Widodo, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla on the stage, opened the Asia's biggest multi-sport event featuring 40 sports and attracting 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries.

Dancers enliven opening ceremony of the 18 Asian Games at Bung Karno Main Stadium, Senayan, Jakarta, Saturday (Aug 18).

In his remark that he delivered earlier, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said the 2018 Asian Games had incised a number of new historical events for the Asian countries.

"We are delighted to be present in your beautiful country. The 2018 Asian Games has made a new history as for the first time in the history of Asia's biggest sporting extravaganza, the Games are jointly hosted by two cities -Jakarta and Palembang," he said.

Shortly after, a number of Indonesian Olympic medalists entered the stage, carrying the OCA flag, followed by the reading of the Asian Games declaration by representatives of the athletes.

Colossal dance and music performances were next on the list, as Indonesian singers, such as Via Vallen, Raisa, Fatin, and Rossa, sang folk songs to hundreds of dancers performing traditional dances from all across Indonesia.

In 1962, Indonesia was able to hold the Asian Games successfully. Indonesia won second place with the acquisition of 11 gold medals, 12 silver medals, and 28 bronze medals in the multi-sport event.

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