OCA announces plans for 18th Asian Games Torch Relay

	OCA announces plans for 18th Asian Games Torch Relay
	31/01/2018 15:24
	A seven-member delegation from the Indonesian Asian Games Organising Committee (INASGOC), visited New Delhi on January 28-29 to finalise preparations for the Torch Relay. The delegation called at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, named after the legendary hockey player and where the permanent flame of the Asian Games is located.
The National Stadium was the main stadium for the first Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951 and carries an historical value, not only for Indians but for the whole of Asia. In a joint meeting between the Olympic Council of Asia, represented by Mr Vinod Tiwari, Director of International Relations, the Indian Olympic Association, represented by its President, Dr Narinder Batra, and Mr Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General, and the Administrator of the National Stadium, Mr. Bansal, the detailed plan for the flame-lighting ceremony in July 2018 was discussed. As per the plan, the flame for the 18th Asian Games will be lit on Sunday, July 15, at the National Stadium. This will be followed by a cultural programme and a 3-km Torch Relay taking in the historical sights of the capital such as the India Gate war memorial and the Rashtrapati Bhavan Lawns. The flame will then be transported to Yogyakarta in Central Java, Indonesia, by a dedicated Indonesian Air Force Boeing 737 for a one-month relay around 29 cities. The 10,000-km relay will involve 1,000 torch bearers and the route will include the tourist island of Bali as well as the Asian Games co-host city Palembang, capital of South Sumatra province. (Ocasia.org)