People in Yogyakarta asked to welcome Asian Games torch

Yogyakarta (Antaranews Jogja) - People in Yogyakarta have been asked to come out to welcome the arrival of Asian Games torch in the city on Tuesday.

"This will be a pride for Yogyakarta, which would be the first place for the 18th Asian Games Torch Relay. We hope people will come out to welcome it," the special region`s administration and public welfare assistant, Sulistyo, said at a press conference here on Monday.

He stated that the Yogyakarta provincial government has coordinated with the administrations of Sleman district and the city of Yogyakarta with regard to welcoming the torch that will pass the two places.

"We have also prepared security measures in cooperation with the police as this will be a historic moment. Yogyakarta is chosen to be the first to welcome the Asian Games torch as it will be the first venue of the Games," he remarked.

He noted that the event would have the potential to promote tourism in Yogyakarta and increase the number of tourists visiting the Central Java region.

He added that various kinds of event have been prepared to welcome the torch in a number of locations, such as Dirgantara museum, Ratu Boko Temple, Prambanan Temple, and Malioboro.

Asian Games 2018 Torch Relay organizer, Virza Reskyana Indra, said that the flame would be taken from New Delhi, India, as the location of the first Asian Games and is scheduled to arrive at Yogyakarta`s Adisutjipto Airport at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Chairman of Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC), Erick Thohir, would bring the torch from India, along with Torch Ambassador Susy Susanti.

"Upon arrival, it will be welcomed with a dance performance and accepted by the Forum of Communication of Regional Government (Forkopimda) and Yogyakarta governor before being taken to Dirgantara Museum," he explained.

On Wednesday, the torch would be paraded to Ratu Boko Temple and in the evening to Prambanan Temple to be met with eternal flame from Mrapen. Vice President Jusuf Kalla is scheduled to attend the event at Prambanan.

On Thursday, the torch will be taken to Tugu Jogja to be paraded for about 10 kilometers through Mangkubumi and Malioboro to Alun-Alun Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta square). From here, it will be taken back to Tugu before being seen off by the City Mayor Haryadi Suyuti, for the INASGOC committee to take it to Solo in Central Java.