Asian Games 2018: Unity in diversity

Everyone would agree that the 2018 Asian Games hosted by Indonesia were an incredible success by all standards. The quality of the organization of the Indonesian committee has surpassed most expectations and Indonesia finished the games ranking the 4th most medalled country of those games (as a reminder, Indonesia ranked 17th in 2014).

But most of all, I was heartened and humbled by the huge wave of solidarity and pride that has conquered the whole country. All the Indonesians were Proud to be Indonesian.. as one country as one people. Irrespective of where they came from (from Aceh to Papua), their traditions (Javanese or Balinese), their religion (Muslims, Christians, or Buddhists), their age (young and old), their class (rich or poor), or their sex (men and women)... all the Indonesian people were united as one and indivisible, behind their national team, proud to show the beautiful face of Indonesia to the rest of the world. Being half French and half Indonesian, I couldn't resist to making the parallel with the victory of the French soccer team (Les Bleus) at the World Cup 2018. The French people were - likewise the Indonesian people -  united as one nation. It is in those rare moments of solidarity and unity that the whole nation feels it's floating in the air with a sense of grace. Those moments of grace where we are united in our diversity. The 2018 Asian Games have beautifully illustrated those values of universality.

Olivier Rochette