REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PALEMBANG -- Thousands of people in Palembang, the capital city of South Sumatra province, gathered at Benteng Kuto Besak here, Friday evening, to attend the launch of the countdown event for the 18th Asian Games.

President Joko Widodo launched the countdown from Jakarta, which together with Palembang, will be the host of the Asian sporting event scheduled to take place from August 18 until Sept 2, 2018.

South Sumatra governor Alex Noerdin, Palembang mayor Harnojoyo, South Sumatra police chief Inspector General Agung Budi Maryoto and deputy chairman of the Indonesia Olympic Committee (KOI) Muddai Madang were among the officials attending the event in Benteng Kuto Besak.

Alex Noerdin called on the people to make the prestigious sporting event, which will see the participation of 45 countries, a success.

"South Sumatra has been preparing for the event for the past 10 years, and this will be useless without the participation of the people. So, let us make it a success," he said.

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