Bekasi (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) attended a function to commemorate National Teachers' Day at the Patriot Stadium, here, Saturday.
The head of state and his entourage arrived at the stadium at around 8:45 a.m. local time.
Among those attending the commemoration ceremony were Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy, West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, and Chairman of the Indonesian Teachers' Association (PGRI) Unifah Rasyidi.
Thousands of people wearing blue batik shirts, the uniform of PGRI, participated in the ceremony, which coincides with the 72nd anniversary of PGRI.
According to Rasyidi, some 38 thousand teachers from across Indonesia were present during the ceremony.
After attending the Teachers' Day commemoration, President Jokowi was scheduled to visit the Bung Karno Sports Stadium located in the Senayan area, South Jakarta.
Jokowi was expected to inaugurate a hockey field, ABC football field, archery field, and aquatic (swimming pool) stadium, on which renovation work had been completed.
The newly renovated facilities will be used for events during the 18th Asian Games, which will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra Province, from August 18 to September 2, 2018.
The Bung Karno Sports Stadium complex has been temporarily closed to the public, as massive renovation work is underway.
Keeping infrastructure development on track holds significance, as in February 2018, all arenas will have to be readied to host the official test events to meet the requirements of the Olympic Council of Asia.
Based on reports released by the Task Force for Asian Games 2018 Infrastructure on Nov 21, renovation of the Bung Karno stadium will be completed on time, as work has currently reached 96.62 percent completion.
Some 9,500 athletes; 2,500 personnel of the Asian Olympic Council; and 5,500 technical delegates from 45 countries will participate or be involved in the event. At least 3,500 media representatives are expected to cover the event. (WDY)
