Central Java to Host ASEAN Para Games 2022

TheIndonesia.id - Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali said Indonesia would host the 2022 ASEAN Para Games in Central Java in July 2022, replacing the previous host Vietnam. Vietnam will host SEA Games only.

“So there are Surakarta, Sukoharjo, (and) Karanganyar. There are several places where it will be held," said Amali in an online press conference after a limited meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

According to Amali, Central Java was chosen as the host because it is a training center for paralympic athletes. The province, which once hosted the same event in 2011, also has supporting sports facilities, such as Dr Soeharso Hospital, Sukoharjo.

“There is Dr Soeharso Hospital. We know the function of the hospital, besides that there is also the Sebelas Maret University, which provides support and backup, especially for sport science," he said.

Other countries in ASEAN, continued Zainudin, have also supported Central Java as the host of the multi-pronged sports event for people with disabilities. The Minister of Youth and Sports acknowledged that the ASEAN Para Games 2022 only had three months left for preparation. However, he is optimistic that the sporting event will be successful.

"Although this is very close but (we are optimistic) because we have had experience hosting the ASEAN Para Games in 2011," said the minister.

President Jokowi on Tuesday stated that Indonesia is ready to host the 2022 ASEAN Para Games. Indonesia will replace Vietnam, which only hosts the SEA Games in May 2022. Usually, the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games are hosted by the same country.

Indonesia Target

Indonesia targets to be the general champion at the ASEAN Para Games 2022, Chairman of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Indonesia Senny Marbun stated.

"Our target is hopefully, that we can win as the general champion, as in (a past competition in) Malaysia, we were far above Malaysia and Thailand," Marbun noted during a press statement after attending the 2022 ASEAN Para Games preparation limited meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace.

Marbun noted that Indonesia, as the host of the 2022 ASEAN Para Games, is responsible for being able to contribute to and doing its best in the sports event.

The ASEAN Para Games 2022 will contest 14 sports branches, which are para-athletics, para-swimming, para-badminton, para-powerlifting, para table tennis, para chess, CP football, blind judo, boccia, sitting volleyball, goalball, wheelchair tennis, para archery, and wheelchair basketball.