ASEAN Para Games Arena Renovation Scheduled For End Of April

Illustration of athletes for the ASEAN Para Games (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Paralympic Committee (NPC) has also communicated with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) for its implementation.

"Representatives from the PUPR Ministry have also made survey visits to the arenas that will be used for the APG matches, both Solo and Karanganyar," said Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Rima Ferdianto as quoted by Antara, Friday.

According to him, the arena that will be renovated includes the Intan Pari Karanganyar swimming pool. This arena is planned to be upgraded according to international standards, namely a depth of three meters with 10 tracks.

"This swimming pool will later be the third most luxurious in Indonesia after Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) and Papua," Rima added.

In addition to the swimming pool, continued Rima, RM Said Karanganyar GOR will be made a proper basketball arena which can then be used for IBL. Renovations were also carried out in the Solo area including the Kotabarat Square, Sriwedari Stadium, Manahan, GOR at UNS. The target for minimal renovation is easier and more comfortable access for athletes with disabilities.

"We calculated the process to be around 100 days. We hope that everything will be ready according to the existing schedule," Rima emphasized.

The NPC does not only communicate with the Ministry of PUPR, but also with the Ministry of Health regarding health protocols, the Ministry of Transportation related to disability-friendly vehicles to the Ministry of SOEs for supporting facilities ranging from telecommunications to locations for the public.

The ASEAN Para Games (APG) XI 2022 in Central Java, according to the initial schedule, will take place July 23-30, but due to several considerations, it has been postponed by a week, namely July 30 to August 6.

"It is true that it has been postponed by a week. This has been adjusted to many things, including input from the President," said General Chairperson of NPC Indonesia, Senny Marbun.

NPC Indonesia currently has received athlete registrations from 11 countries, namely Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam and host Indonesia with a total of 1,648 athletes.

The sports that are competed are 14 branches, namely athletics, boccia, archery, judo, weightlifting, swimming, table tennis, field tennis, chess, goalball, badminton, bicycle racing, CP football and sitting volleyball.