Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Organizing Committee of Asian Games in Indonesia (INASGOC) will recruit more than 20 thousand volunteers to help organize the 18th Asian Games.

The public, particularly university students, were enthusiastic to become volunteers, Harry Warganegara, acting secretary general of INASGOC, said here recently.

Forty five countries will participate in the Asian Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang (South Sumatra Proivnce), from August 18 to September 2, 2018.

The volunteers will escort some 11 thousand athletes and official from 45 Asian nations, and five thousand pressmen.

"We have set criteria for volunteers. They must speak foreign languages, and know how to use information technology and computer because they will sever athletes, officials, the media, supporters and state guests," he said.

Meanwhile, the INASGOC and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on March 30, held a closed door meeting in Jakarta, to discuss the coordination for the Asian Games protocols.

The meeting was attended among others by officials of the State Secretariat, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Public Work and Public Housing Ministry, the National Police, and the Presidential Security Unit, and Erick Thohir, general chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI).

In early March, the Olympic Council of Asia has announced the maximum number of sports and events for the 18th Asian Games.

Speaking after the sixth meeting of the OCA Coordination Committee for the 18th Asian Games, the Committee Chairman, Tsunekazu Takeda, said: "Today we finalised the number of sports at 42 and the number of events at 484."

Takeda, IOC Member and President of the Japanese Olympic Committee, said that was the maximum number of sports and events, and neither figure will be increased, but the number might be reduced.

"Overall the OCA is very satisfied with the result of this meeting and I am confident the Asian Games in 2018 will be a great success," he said in Jakarta.

Of the 42 sports, Palembang will host 10 at Jakabaring Sports City.

Reporter: Imam Santoso
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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