Indonesia hosts 11th ASEAN Para Games

The ASEAN Para Sports Federation (APSF) has approved the city of Solo, Indonesia to host the 11^th ASEAN Para Games scheduled on July 23 to 30.

This was announced during the Board of Governors meeting attended virtually by 10 member nations, replacing Hanoi, Vietnam after it withdrew from hosting last year due to pandemic concerns.

This would be the second time that Solo, a city in Central Java, would host the event since the 6^th edition in 2011 where 11 sports were contested in.

“After careful deliberation and consideration, majority of the Board reached a decision to officially award Indonesia the hosting job following decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to remove Indonesia from its non-compliance list earlier this month,” said BOG Chairman H.E. Yi Veasna.

Prior to this, the National Doping Agency of Indonesia (LADI) was put on the non-compliance list due to what WADA described as “non-conformities in implementing an effective testing program” which resulted in the nation being barred from hosting any international sporting events or Games.

Indonesia has proposed an additional sport – Volleyball Sitting – to make up to the total 14 sports to be contested in the Games.

Proposed sports are archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, CP football, chess, goalball, judo, powerlifting, table tennis, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and sitting volleyball.

Following the official approval and declaration, the Local Organizing Committee of the Solo Games will work closely with the APSF Secretariat to ensure smooth delivery of the 11^th ASEAN Para Games.

This includes expediting the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the host city and APSF to ensure clear direction and responsibilities amongst all related parties and stakeholders before and during Games time.