Let\'s All Join the Party at GBK!

On Thursday (30/8/2018), visitors at the three zones in the Gelora Bung Karno, namely Bhin Bhin, Kaka and Atung, were seen enjoying diverse culinary dishes, taking selfies, playing free games and watching attractions at the many spots available.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Gate 1 to the Gelora Bung Karno area in Jakarta, pictured on Thursday (30/8/2018). According to earlier plans, hundreds of small and medium-scale entrepreneurs were to join the Asian Fest 2018 by offering their merchandise at the gate. However, the plan was cancelled by the event organizer.

The Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex in Jakarta is seemingly filled with nonstop celebrations these days. On Thursday (30/8/2018), visitors at the three zones in the GBK, namely Bhin Bhin, Kaka and Atung, were seen enjoying diverse culinary dishes, taking selfies, playing free games and watching attractions at the many spots available.

Entering GBK’s Gate 7 on Jl. Sudirman, the first thing seen is a statue of first president Soekarno, or Bung Karno as he was better known. Just behind the statue and right in front of the GBK Stadium is the Asian Games cauldron, where the eternal flame burns. The Bilah Nusantara cauldron has a unique design. Its tallest point is bright red, while the left and right sides are copper-colored and adorned with beautiful engravings.

Not tacky

The Bhin Bhin Zone is located about 10 meters from the Soekarno statue. “Many were concerned that Indonesia would put on a tacky show as the Asian Games host. However, what we see around the GBK shows that the concerns were unjustified,” said Ahmad Chair, 27, who arrived at the GBK with his wife and child at 8 a.m.

Ahmad also praised the modern and eye-pleasing decorations in the three GBK zones. They help create an atmosphere of a civilized city where the people prefer public transportation, complete with shuttle buses servicing GBK’s inner and outer circles and connecting the sports complex with nearby train stations, bus stops and parking areas. The walkways in and around the GBK make walking around safe and comfortable. Waste is properly managed.

Public safety is ensured. Security guards as well as police and military personnel guard the sports complex. Every visitor is required to walk through a body scanner to get inside.

Ahmad said that Asia’s largest multisport event had united the people. “Whenever Indonesian athletes win medals, everyone cheers. No one ask about the athlete’s religion or ethnicity,” he said.

Tok Mo, 60, a Malaysian, said he had been concerned about his safety before arriving in Jakarta. In Malaysia, he often heard rumors that Jakartans were rowdy.

After spending three days in Jakarta and walking around various sports venues, he and his 11 friends felt that the rumors were unjustified. “Jakartans are really great people,” Tok said.

The man, whose attire bore a picture of the Malaysian flag, pointed out to the pencak silat matches between Malaysia and Indonesia at the pencak silat venue in the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) cultural park in Jakarta. “No one acted provokingly. Everyone respected and cheered one another,” he told Kompas in front of a culinary stand in Atung Zone on Thursday.

Tok’s friend Yusnita, 40, took a selfie with members of the Jakarta Military Command’s security reconnaissance platoon. Several members of the platoon, wearing all-black and carrying rifles, could be seen walking around the Atung Zone.

Nearby, three young women with children were relaxing on a lesehan (floor seating) area beside the Upnormal and Anomali coffee stands.

Crowded and fun

Not far from the Atung Zone, sounds of an angklung musical instrument and keyboard could be heard coming from the Kaka Zone. Women from the La Mirage Parahyangan group were playing the angklung while dancing. In front of them, a conductor led the performance. Many visitors were smiling and dancing along.

Near the impromptu dance performance is a 24-square-meter bungee race venue, which has two lanes. Two children stood in the lanes with lengths of elastic attached to their waists. They walked as fast as they could to snatch a flag at the other end of the lane. The one who snatched the flag first cheered and smiled, while the other one fell backward. Don’t be sad, little child! You can always try again.

Perhaps this is the same thing athletes feel when they win or lose a competition. Similar to athletes, the children in the bungee race also had a strong spirit that kept them going back to try again.

Lia Prameswari, 19, who has visited GBK three times during the Asian Games, said she did not expect the atmosphere outside the sports venues to be so much fun. Now, she pledges to not give up while standing in line to enter the ever-crowded Super Store – the sports complex’s official Asian Games souvenir shop. “[The souvenirs] may just be dolls, but they are proof that I was part of the Asian Games,” she said.

Keep your chin up, Lia. The Asian Games don\'t end until Sunday. Until then, everyone is welcome to join in the fun at the GBK.

(E10)