REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo has asked the Indonesia 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) to sell tickets at more affordable prices. He hoped INASGOC will lobby the Asian Olympic Council (OCA) regarding the prices of tickets for the Asian Games, Soesatyo said in Jakarta on Friday.

Soesatyo made the remarks in response to INASGOC Chairman Erick Thohir's statement that the committee will sell tickets for the opening of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta on August 18. Ticket prices vary between Rp750 thousand and Rp5 million. Erick said prices for the Asian Games opening ceremony are based on standards set by the OCA.

Soesatyo, who is commonly known as Bamsoet, appealed to INASGOC not to sell tickets for the opening ceremony at very expensive prices.

Also read: Asian Games tickets will be available starting on June 30

"Affordable ticket prices will make support for other Asian countries more vibrant and will encourage the community to participate actively in supporting the successful implementation of the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia," he said.

Soesatyo, who is a member of the Golkar Party, also encouraged the Ministry of Youth and Sports and INASGOC to cooperate with private television stations to broadcast live matches during the games. It would be a good idea for the organizing committee to put up wide screens at various places to broadcast matches, he said.

"This will provide an opportunity for people who cannot afford to buy tickets to be able to watch games during the event," he said.

Indonesia will host the 18th Asian Games in the cities of Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra from August 18 to September 2.

Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, is on a two-day work visit to Palembang, the provincial capital of South Sumatra, to assess the readiness of a number of facilities and sports arenas for the games.

The president and his entourage boarded the special presidential aircraft Indonesia-1 at Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Airport at 8.00 a.m. on Friday, and arrived at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport in Palembang 50 minutes later.

South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin greeted Jokowi upon his arrival, after which the president proceeded to the Jakabering Sport Arena. Alex said the president has inaugurated the rowing track for the Asian Games in the sports area of Jakabaring, Palembang.

The governor added that the president has also reviewed the light-weight train or light rail transit (LRT) project. The LRT will initially be used as a means of transportation for participants of the Asian Games from August to September.

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