Kilas Balik Indonesia sebagai Tuan Rumah Asian Games IV Tahun 1962
Kilas Balik Indonesia sebagai Tuan Rumah Asian Games IV Tahun 1962
The 18th Asian Games will commence on 18 August in Jakarta and Palembang.
This is the second time Indonesia hosts the event. Back in 1962, Indonesia hosted the fourth Asian Games. In 1962, the competition contested only 13 sports that were joined by 17 countries while this year it contests 42 sports and joined by 45 countries.
Indonesia had its own reason for applying to host the event in 1962. Based on decision of the Session dated 22, 23, and 24 July 1958, Asian Games for Indonesia was not interpreted just as a sporting session but to form friendship among other Asian countries.
According to the text of Principle Stipulation, Indonesian Olympics Committee, the 4th Asian Games was the continuation of Asia Africa Conference 1955 in Bandung.
Based on this text, the countries joining the Conference carried the spirit of anti-colonialism and imperialism in Asia while the countries that dominated the Asian Games were considered as opposing the spirit of the Conference.
The text said that Indonesia as one of the founders of the Asian Games had the responsibility to save the event from those that wanted to eliminate the spirit of the Conference. So, even if Indonesia was still unstable, the Indonesian Olympics Committee applied to be the host. The Committee later planned the hosting of the 4th Asian Games, from selecting executive committee, infrastructure, to funding matters.
After AGF meeting on 23 May 1958, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX was declared the Chief of Executive Committee of the Asian Games. Maladi was elected Secretary General. Besides, there were also Asian Games Indonesia committee with 36 members. Of this figure, there were commission chiefs, one of them was UGM first rector, dr. Sardjito as chief of education commission.
Sardjito being elected one of the commission chiefs was related to the involvement of UGM in Asian Games. Prof. Arma Abdullah, Dean of Faculty of Physical Education in 1962, said that UGM academic community was much involved in the hosting of the 4th Asian Games, including Arma himself.
Arma said UGM deployed lecturers and students, especially from his Faculty, to help with the event in Jakarta. “All is based on the rector’s instruction,” he said on Thursday (16/8).
According to Arma, UGM helped formulate the rules of various sports and technical aspects of competition. “Some were even appointed as judges and umpires,” he said,
Arma said the election of UGM academic community in the Asian Games had been due fact that UGM had the faculty of Physical Education. “UGM was the only university in Indonesia that had physical education faculty in Indonesia,” he said.