"Even it has made two rivals in a presidential election to hug each other for Indonesia," he said referring to the event when a martial artist after winning a competition ran up to President Jokowi as incumbent and his rival Prabowo Subianto to hug them together with him in the recent Asian Games 2018.
Okto said Indonesia still felt the happness it experienced during the Asian Games.
"Today on October 7, 2018 we will again witness a new history which is Indonesia being the host of Asian Para Games for the first time," he said.
He said the Asian Para Games has bcome the most prestigious event for people with disability in Asia.
"In the multi-sport event we do not only compete to win but through it we also uphold sporting spirit, solidarity, humanity and harmonioous relations between countries in Asia," he said.
A total of 2,762 athletes from 43 countries take part in 512 events from 18 sport branches in addition to 16 non-medal sports of para athletic and para swimming events.
This is the third Asian Para Games after the first in Guangzhou, China in 2010 and Incheon, South Korea, in 2014.
Reporting by Imam Santoso
Editing by Yoseph Hariyadi
Pewarta: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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