Like a beacon of unity, the 2018 Asian Games / Asian Para Games Cauldron stands. This cauldron marked the beginning of a grand sporting event in Asia. It represents more than just a flame. It embodies the spirit of the Games.
The 2018 Asian Games Cauldron was the fire cauldron during the opening ceremony. It took place at Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Central Jakarta on August 18. The torch relay lit this cauldron. It signified the start of the games.
The statue of Indonesia’s first president Sukarno served as the base. INASGOC deputy II of games operations Francis Wanandi confirmed this. The statue remained at the sports complex after the Games.
The Games began on August 18. They ended on September 2 in Jakarta and Palembang. This was the 18th installment of the Asian Games. It marked the second time Indonesia hosted the event.
The torch relay commenced on August 15. It began in New Delhi, India, the host of the first Games. The torch was then transported to Mrapen, Central Java. Here, it fused with an eternal flame. This eternal flame started the national relay. The flame traveled to 53 cities before reaching GBK.
During the opening ceremony, a video showed President Joko Widodo riding a motorbike. He navigated Jakarta’s traffic to reach the stadium. This added a modern and exciting element to the ceremony. The backdrop featured an enormous mountain. It resembled Indonesia’s landscapes. The mountain weighed 600 tons. It measured 120 meters long. It was 30 meters wide and 26 meters tall.
More than 12775 real plants and flowers adorned the mountain. A stunning waterfall cascaded down. It used 70 tons of water. It was considered the largest set piece ever in a multi-games ceremony.
The ceremony paid tribute to past events. A video of President Sukarno’s speech from the 1962 Asian Games was shown. A moment of silence honored those who died in the recent earthquake.
Athletes from the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea entered together. They carried a unified Korean flag. This symbolized unity and cooperation.
Susi Susanti, Indonesia’s first Olympic champion, lit the cauldron. She won gold in badminton in 1992. Her action completed the flame’s journey.
The flame was ignited in New Delhi, India. It then fused with the eternal flame of Mrapen in Indonesia. The domestic torch relay visited 54 cities in 18 provinces.
The 2018 Asian Games / Asian Para Games Cauldron stands as a reminder. It represents the spirit of the Games. It embodies unity, tribute, and national pride. It will forever be etched in the history of Indonesia.