President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to visit Switzerland to demonstrate Indonesia’s seriousness and readiness to host the 2032 Olympics.
He plans to personally convince the Olympic International Committee (OIC ) to choose Indonesia as the host of the world’s foremost and largest sporting event.
"We have successfully organized the Asian Games and Asian Para Games in 2018. This raises confidence and improves the world’s perception that Indonesia is capable of being a good host for international events," he emphasized during a virtual limited cabinet meeting to discuss Indonesia's bid for hosting the 2032 Olympics, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on November 3, 2020.
Jokowi had first voiced his intention of hosting the Olympics on September 1, 2018 while receiving OIC president Thomas Bach and chief of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Syekh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java.
On February 19, 2019, Indonesia made its 2032 Olympics bid official, with the dispatch of letters from President Widodo and the Indonesian Olympic Committee to the IOC in Lausanne.
Indonesia's bid to host the 2032 Olympics is not meant for showing off, but rather aimed at raising the nation's image and dignity, Jokowi said.
"This is because we have to make this candidacy a momentum to organize ourselves and to improve various aspects that have been lacking so far," he added.
He said he has instructed his staff to prepare sports infrastructure, improve coaching for athletes, and increase global visibility for Indonesia as a potential host for the 2032 Olympics, among other things.
The selection process to host the 2032 Olympics will be held in 2023, and the results will be determined in 2024.
The 2032 Olympics will be a Summer Olympics. Paris (France) and Los Angeles (United States) have won the ticket to host the Olympics in 2024 and 2028, respectively.
Indonesia is expected to compete with Australia, Germany, Korea, Qatar, and China for hosting the 2032 Olympics.
While speaking to reporters, Thomas Bach, who had attended the closing ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, had said: "To answer your question, yes, I think Indonesia's chances (of hosting the Olympics) are quite high."
"The success of the Asian Games serves as proof of Indonesia's capability," he said two years ago in Jakarta.
Through the sports convention, he continued, he was also able to see the enthusiasm of Indonesian citizens towards sports.
"It came as a surprise to me, but it is a positive one. I did not think that I would see such enthusiasm. I have spoken to many people and they were all very happy. This is why I am so sure that if we have the Olympics here in 2032, the Olympics spirit will sure come alive," he remarked.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari has confirmed that President Joko Widodo will visit the IOC headquarters in connection with Indonesia's bid to host the 2032 Olympics.
"We urged the President to visit the IOC office in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the President agrees that this will greatly assist our nomination process as host of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics," Oktohari stated during an online press conference.
State Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir, concurrently a member of the IOC from Indonesia, visited the IOC headquarters in Switzerland in October, 2020.
“(If Indonesia’s bid is approved) It would be the first time that the Olympics will be held in Southeast Asia. We are optimistic of receiving all the well-deserved trust, and we seek the support of all Indonesian people to fight with us and prove that Indonesia is also capable of hosting the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics," he said.
One of the important processes in the bidding is support from the Indonesian people, as the IOC has said the host city must have legacy, sustainability, community support, and be eco-friendly, he stated.
"Indonesia has the edge and confidence to compete with other countries, with its stable weather and conducive temperature, security, hospitality, culinary arts, and beauty that will become the primary consideration," the KOI chief pointed out.
A special committee will be formed to prepare Indonesia's bid for hosting the Olympics.
"The President has instructed, first, to prepare a special committee for our bidding to host the 2032 Olympics Games, and secondly, to prepare the budget," Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali said.
President Widodo has also urged KOI to make all the necessary preparations pertaining to the bidding, including drafting the proposal and conducting feasibility studies.
To demonstrate the government's preparations towards the bid for hosting the 2032 Olympics, the Ministry of Youth and Sports also plans to build an anti-doping laboratory in the country.
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Editor : Mahdani
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