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Indonesia spruces up for 'best Asian Games yet'

Indonesia ready to welcome some 250,000 visitors next month for the 18th Asiad

Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta
A Pasukan Oranye worker painting a mural in South Jakarta to liven up the capital for the Asian Games. PHOTO: TEMPO
Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta
Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. PHOTO: ANTARA
Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta
Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta ahead of the Asian Games next month. The clean-up of the city is a monumental task. PHOTO: ANTARA
Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta
As downtown Jakarta undergoes a road-widening and sidewalk-rejuvenation exercise (above), a worker puts the finishing touch to a rejuvenated sidewalk near the Bung Karno Sporting Arena. PHOTOS: FRANCIS CHAN, TEMPO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta
As downtown Jakarta undergoes a road-widening and sidewalk-rejuvenation exercise, a worker puts the finishing touch (above) to a rejuvenated sidewalk near the Bung Karno Sporting Arena. PHOTOS: FRANCIS CHAN, TEMPO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta
A participant dressed up as the mascot in a May parade to mark the 100-day countdown to the Asiad. PHOTOS: FRANCIS CHAN, TEMPO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta
A worker clearing plastic seats ripped and thrown from stadium stands by irate spectators at a July 21 local football match at the Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium, a Palembang venue for the Asian Games. PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ANTARA
Helping Jakarta make a good impression is an army of sanitation workers known locally as Pasukan Oranye, or the Orange Force, so called because of the colour of their uniforms and vehicles. Pasukan Oranye workers cleaning Lake Sunter in North Jakarta
The Gelora Bung Karno stadium, which seats 78,000, in Jakarta is Indonesia’s largest sporting arena. PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ANTARA
Francis Chan Indonesia Bureau Chief In Jakarta
Updated
Oct 25, 2018, 03:47 PM
Published
Jul 31, 2018, 05:00 AM
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Indonesia is putting the finishing touches to parts of Jakarta where its thoroughfares and sporting facilities, including the country's largest stadium, have been undergoing a facelift ahead of the Asian Games it is hosting next month.

When the event kicks off on Aug 18, some 250,000 visitors from the region - including about 15,000 athletes and officials - are expected to be in the Indonesian capital, the supporting Palembang city in South Sumatra, and other parts of West Java. While the refurbished Gelora Bung Karno stadium is ready to welcome athletes and spectators for the opening ceremony, Jakarta is still racing against the clock to rid the city of trash and graffiti, as well as pollution in the air, and in its many rivers and canals.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 31, 2018, with the headline Indonesia spruces up for 'best Asian Games yet'. Subscribe

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