REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A total of 2,175 athletes and officials, who have participated in the 2018 Asian Games, have returned to their home countries via the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport here since August 19, 2018. They depart personally and in groups,, according to Annisa Hasanah, staff member of the 2018 Asian Games organizing committee who is responsible for monitoring the athletes' arrivals and departures at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport here on Sunday.

Annisa noted that three officials of Saudi Arabia's contingent returned early on August 19. On August 29-30, a total of 1,750 people coming from various countries, including Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Nepal, had also left Jakarta for their home countries, she said.

Many of the athletes who returned via Soekarno-Hatta Airport stayed at the Athletes Village in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. They came to the airport by buses, escorted by the police.

Some basketball and volleyball athletes from Korea and Saudi Arabia returned home early and did not participate in the Asian Games' closing ceremony due to be held at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Sunday evening.

Annisa added that among the members of the participating countries, who had returned home were also coaches. Some of them were escorted by their respective embassy staff members in Jakarta. The departure monitoring organizers at the airport also assisted those wishing to buy souvenirs in some stores around the airport.

As of Sunday at 9:30 am local time, a total of 448 athletes and officials have returned to their home countries, including those of Laos, Singapore, Korea, the Philippines, and Myanmar.

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