Inaugural ceremony of 2018 Asian Games held Tuesday

“We will present games that will blow away this scorching heat,” said Lee Dae-hoon (age 26), taekwondo athlete, at the inaugural ceremony for the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games on Tuesday. The national team pledged for good games at the upcoming Asian Games.

The South Korean national team aims to take 2nd place for six consecutive times by winning more than 65 gold medals. Among the Korean sports delegation comprised of 1,044 for 39 events including 807 players, 186 athletic officials, 51 organization officials, some 600 people participated at Tuesday’s ceremony.

One of the interests in the Asian Games is the composition of a joint Korean team. The joint team will be participating at female basketball, canoe and rowing games. The joint team will be entering the opening and closing ceremonies together.

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon attended the inaugural ceremony and delivered words of encouragement, saying, “I hope every athlete would feel proud as each of you are contributing to national harmony and peace establishment.”

The Korean national team players have begun their official schedule right after the ceremony. They will leave for Palembang and Jakarta next Wednesday.


Hong-Gu Kang windup@donga.com