Opening ASEAN Para Games 2022, This Is The Message Of Vice President Ma'ruf Amin

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin officially opened the 2022 ASEAN Para Games (APG) at the Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java on Saturday (30/7/2022) (Antara/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin officially opened the 2022 ASEAN Para Games at Manahan Stadium, Solo, Central Java.

"To all athletes, congratulations on fighting in a healthy and sporting competition. I hope that this sporting event will further strengthen friendly relations between ASEAN countries and the ASEAN community. I also hope that the ASEAN Para Games will make the ASEAN Community more inclusive and resilient," said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin when delivering his opening speech at Solo's Manahan Stadium, Saturday.

After finishing his opening speech, Vice President Ma'ruf then opened the kris and raised the kris above his head to mark the opening of the multi-event sporting event.

After finishing his opening speech, then on the field, APG's mascot, Rajamala, emerged from the white lotus "shell" and was greeted with applause from the audience.

"Para Games is a special event because it is a source of inspiration for all of us about the meaning of equality. The games are something special because the athletes of the games are the best athletes who fight to make their country proud," said the Vice President.

According to Vice President Ma'ruf, the 2022 APG event is also a special moment because the athletes of the games have proven that the drive to achieve their goals and make achievements must be stronger than the obstacles they face.

"I welcome to Indonesia, especially in the city of Surakarta, to the proud athletes who represent eleven countries from the Southeast Asian region," added the Vice President.

The city of Surakarta, according to the Vice President, is a city rich in culture as well as being the home of the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee.

"In this city, the first Indonesian National Sports Week was held in 1948. This year, the city of Surakarta is hosting the ASEAN Para Games for the second time, after holding the 6th ASEAN Para Games in 2011," added Ma'ruf.

The Vice President also expressed his appreciation and congratulations to the Governor of Central Java and all ranks, especially the Mayor of Surakarta, for the hard work that has been done in preparing for the 2022 ASEAN Para Games.

The Indonesia ASEAN Para Games Organizing Committee (Inaspoc) has transformed the stands of the Manahan Solo Stadium spectators into a large puppet stage for the opening ceremony.

The organizers are targeting 10,000 spectators to attend the opening ceremony of APG 2022. A total of 6 thousand tickets are for the general public while the rest are for invited guests. The public can watch the opening ceremony for free on condition that they have taken the third or booster dose of vaccine.

In the APG 2022 opening file, the Indonesian contingent wore batik with a special motif, while the back was red and white.

APG 2022 will take place in Solo Raya and Semarang on 30 July-6 August 2022 with the theme "Striving for Equality".

In the 2022 APG, Indonesia as the host sent the largest contingent of athletes, namely 324 athletes followed by Thailand with 303 athletes, then Vietnam (119 athletes), Cambodia (112), Philippines (144), Malaysia (70), Myanmar (69), Singapore ( 37 athletes), Laos (37), Timor Leste (15 athletes), and Brunei Darussalam (13 athletes).

APG 2022 will compete in 14 sports, namely athletics at the Solo Manahan Stadium, boccia (GOR FKOR UNS), archery (West City Field), judo (Tirtonadi Convention Hall), table tennis (Solo Techno Park), weight lifting (Solo Paragon Hotel) , swimming (GOR Jatidiri Semarang), tennis (Manahan Solo), chess (Hotel Lor In D'wangsa Solo), goalball (GOR UNS), badminton (Edutorium UMS), CP football (UNS Stadium), basketball ( GOR Sritex) and sitting volleyball (GOR UTP).