With the Asian Games returning to Indonesia after five decades, the hotel that hosted the game delegates in 1962 is commemorating the event with the launch of an exhibition.
Hotel Indonesia opened in Jakarta in 1962 as the first international-standard hotel in South-east Asia, mere days before the Asian Games kicked off.
Fifty-six years later, Hotel Indonesia, now a Kempinski, is staging a sports and heritage photo exhibition during the Asian Games, which takes place from August 18 to September 2 in Jakarta and Palembang (South Sumatra).
On display at the main lobby and Nirwana Lounge are medals and memorabilia of Indonesian legendary sports champions, traditional clothes of Palembang and historic photos, paintings, chinaware of the hotel.
The exhibition was launched yesterday, graced by several Indonesia’s sports living legends including Tan Joe Hok, a badminton athlete who won three medals at Asian Games 1962; Irma Hadisurya, the first Miss Indonesia (crowned in 1969); and Arifin Pasaribu, former public relations of Hotel Indonesia (1963-1988), who later became the director of the Indonesia Tourism Promotion Office in London.
Sjefke Jansen, general manager of Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta, commented: “The series of events is our way to welcome the Asian Games back to Indonesia, as we were a part of this international event (then).”
