Athletes' village nearly ready<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The 42-story athlete's village for the 19th
\nSoutheast Asian (SEA) Games in October is close to completion and
\nwill be opened in September.<\/p>\n
The Mulia Group's owner, Joko S. Tjandra, said yesterday that
\nthe first tower of the Mulia Hotel would be finished by mid-June.<\/p>\n
\"Right now, the building is 38 stories and in about two weeks
\nthe construction will be finished,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The tower will have 1,068 rooms and accommodate nearly 6,000
\nGames participants.<\/p>\n
\"Just imagine, how can a story be built in only two and a half
\ndays? I won't mind if its called the quickest built building in
\nthe world,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The building has been under construction for five months.<\/p>\n
\"I guarantee that the building will be ready for the Games and
\neverybody's safety is guaranteed,\" Joko said.<\/p>\n
\"With 6,000 workers and heavy equipment, they all are working
\nsafely. So, we have nothing to worry about,\" he said.<\/p>\n
American design consultant Ali R. Moghaddasi said it would
\nnormally take about three years for such a building to be
\ncompleted.<\/p>\n
\"We'll provide for maximum safety in the construction. We are
\nnot sacrificing the building's safety or beauty. With this
\ntechnology, we don't have pressure to finish it ahead of
\nschedule,\" he said.<\/p>\n
National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said he
\nwas satisfied.<\/p>\n
\"I don't really care if the construction is finished ahead of
\nschedule. For me, as long as it is finished in time, that's
\nreally great. No other nation could build such a huge building in
\nsuch a short time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The second tower, whose foundation is being laid, will have 59
\nstories and 900 luxurious rooms. The second tower will become
\nservice apartments.<\/p>\n
After the Games, which will be held from Oct. 10 to Oct. 19,
\nit will become a commercial hotel.<\/p>\n
\"But when there are international or national events, we'll
\nopen the doors for athletes,\" Joko said.<\/p>\n
\"We don't want to have athletes' village problems every time
\nwe host an event. By having this hotel, at least one problem is
\nsolved,\" Wismoyo said.<\/p>\n
The hotel will have a 2,450-square-meter ball room, reputedly
\nthe biggest in the Asia-Pacific.<\/p>\n
\"I was thinking of creating the grandest hotel in the city as
\nthe symbol of Jakarta. The ballroom is the biggest and it will
\nhave marble and chandeliers. It will create the ultra-modern
\ninternational style. But the art and furniture will have
\nIndonesian style,\" said Moghaddasi, who also designed the Wisma
\nGKBI on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Plaza Indonesia on Jl. MH Thamrin and
\nGraha Unilever on Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto.<\/p>\n
The hotel's other facilities include a 2,100-square-meter
\nhealth center, five tennis courts, a 46 bowling lanes, an
\nOlympic-standard ice skating arena, and squash courts, which will
\nbe built later.<\/p>\n
The hotel will have 11 meeting rooms on the third floor, which
\nwill be available for participating countries.<\/p>\n
Joko said the hotel would have 12 lifts, each with a capacity
\nto carry 28 people.<\/p>\n
\"About 300 people can go down at the same time in seconds,\" he
\nsaid. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/athletes-village-nearly-ready-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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