Indonesia bursts into colors at the 2018 Asian Games opening

OVER THE WEEKEND, the Jakarta skyline was lit up by a spectacular pyrotechnic show as Indonesia rolled out the red carpet to welcome the long-awaited 2018 Asian Games.

The 2018 Asian Games, also known as the 18th Asian Games or Jakarta Palembang 2018, will be held from Aug 18, 2018, to Sept 2, 2018, in Jakarta and Palembang.

This is the first time the Asian Games are being co-hosted in two cities.

The pan-Asian multi-sport event will have 40 categories, including eSports (gaming) – 14 of them will be contested in Palembang while the rest will be in Jakarta.

Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the games.

Performers stand in line as they wait to take part at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on Aug 18, 2018. Source: AFP PHOTO / Anthony WALLACE

Indonesian president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo left spectators gobsmacked when he made a dramatic entrance to the stadium by riding a motorbike onto the stage moments before the official opening.

“We are proud, we are honored by the arrival of the special guests from 45 countries,” the 57-year-old leader told a crowd of 50,000.

“During the 18th Asian Games we, the nations of Asia, want to show that we are one in brotherhood.”

His entrance, which was viewed as a presidential dig at Jakarta’s notorious traffic woes, catapulted him to number one in Twitter’s trending topics for the night.

Indonesia presented a vibrant Asian Games opening which featured a colorful display of their cultural heritage and a message of world peace.

From a unified Korean delegation to the triumphant moment when the Palestine contingent and the Kuwait team marched in, the opening of the 2018 Asian Games was truly historic in more ways than just one.

Here is what you may have missed:

The 2018 Asian Games opening was held in the same area where the 1962 Asian Games were opened.

The stadium has previously hosted Pope John Paul II, Michael Jackson, Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, as well as English Premier League sides such as Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

Just like the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, the North and South Korean athletes illustrated an emotional display of unity when they marched in together during the opening ceremony under one unified flag.

This once again delivered a touching powerful message of peace amid the recent diplomatic breakthroughs.

The Unified Korea delegation parades during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games at the Gelora Bung Karno main stadium in Jakarta on Aug 18, 2018. Source: AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA

The Kuwait team saw a joyous return to the games after the Olympic movement lifted a ban on the country two days before the start of the 2018 Asian Games.

This effectively allowed the Arab country to participate under its own flag.

Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah hailed his homeland’s return.

“We are proud that the Kuwaiti athletes after so many years are participating under the Kuwaiti flag… to complete the 45 flags of all our members,” he said.

Kuwait’s delegation parades during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games at the Gelora Bung Karno main stadium in Jakarta on Aug 18, 2018. Source: AFP PHOTO / CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN

As security remained a concern during the games due to the suicide attacks which rocked the city of Surabaya in May, some 9,000 security personnel stood guard at the stadium.

100,000 police and military personnel will be on duty throughout the duration of the multi-sport extravaganza and facial recognition technology will be used at some of the venues.

The sprawling archipelago has also been grappling with its latest earthquake disaster after strong tremors shook and rattled the resort island of Lombok this month.

As such, ceremony poignantly observed a minute’s silence in memory of the 460 killed in the Lombok earthquakes.

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games at the Gelora Bung Karno main stadium in Jakarta on Aug 18, 2018. Source: AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY

In the center of the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium was a huge rainforest-covered volcano that formed the backdrop for a show based on air, earth, wind, and fire themes.

Around 3,600 performances enthusiastically danced around in various extravagant costumes and colorful themes.

“You can feel proud of your home country Indonesia,” Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said before Widodo declared the Games open

The two-and-a-half hour ceremony then culminated in former Olympic badminton champion Susi Susanti carrying the torch to the summit of the volcano which set off a spectacular display of fireworks.

The 2018 Asian Games will encompass nearly the full Olympic programme.

It is expected to conclude on Sept 2, 2018.

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