2018 Asian Games Torch Relay Commences

NEW DELHI, July 16 (Bernama) -- The 2018 Asian Games Torch Relay began on Sunday from New Delhi as Indonesia prepares to host the prestigious event next month. The flame, on its 18,000-km journey, will pass through 54 cities in 18 provinces across Indonesia before reaching the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Main Stadium in Jakarta for the Asian Games opening ceremony on August 18. About 30 athletes, including Indian Olympic boxer Mary Kom and Indonesian badminton star Susi Susanti, the torch ambassador, participated in Sunday's torch relay held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the birthplace of the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) top sports event in 1951. The torch lighting ceremony was attended by senior sports officials, including Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra and Indonesian Asian Games Organising Committee chief Erick Thohir. This year's Asian Games, which will run from August 18 to September 2 in the cities of Jakarta and Palembang, will bring together almost 12,000 athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees in 40 sports and 465 events. "With 11,920 athletes participating, the Asian Games is only growing. We want to develop the economy across other islands and hosting it in these two cities gives us a chance to create balance and jobs," said Erick. -- BERNAMA