Athletes' village nearly ready

JAKARTA (JP): The 42-story athlete's village for the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in October is close to completion and will be opened in September.

The Mulia Group's owner, Joko S. Tjandra, said yesterday that the first tower of the Mulia Hotel would be finished by mid-June.

"Right now, the building is 38 stories and in about two weeks the construction will be finished," he said.

The tower will have 1,068 rooms and accommodate nearly 6,000 Games participants.

"Just imagine, how can a story be built in only two and a half days? I won't mind if its called the quickest built building in the world," he said.

The building has been under construction for five months.

"I guarantee that the building will be ready for the Games and everybody's safety is guaranteed," Joko said.

"With 6,000 workers and heavy equipment, they all are working safely. So, we have nothing to worry about," he said.

American design consultant Ali R. Moghaddasi said it would normally take about three years for such a building to be completed.

"We'll provide for maximum safety in the construction. We are not sacrificing the building's safety or beauty. With this technology, we don't have pressure to finish it ahead of schedule," he said.

National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar said he was satisfied.

"I don't really care if the construction is finished ahead of schedule. For me, as long as it is finished in time, that's really great. No other nation could build such a huge building in such a short time," he said.

The second tower, whose foundation is being laid, will have 59 stories and 900 luxurious rooms. The second tower will become service apartments.

After the Games, which will be held from Oct. 10 to Oct. 19, it will become a commercial hotel.

"But when there are international or national events, we'll open the doors for athletes," Joko said.

"We don't want to have athletes' village problems every time we host an event. By having this hotel, at least one problem is solved," Wismoyo said.

The hotel will have a 2,450-square-meter ball room, reputedly the biggest in the Asia-Pacific.

"I was thinking of creating the grandest hotel in the city as the symbol of Jakarta. The ballroom is the biggest and it will have marble and chandeliers. It will create the ultra-modern international style. But the art and furniture will have Indonesian style," said Moghaddasi, who also designed the Wisma GKBI on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Plaza Indonesia on Jl. MH Thamrin and Graha Unilever on Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto.

The hotel's other facilities include a 2,100-square-meter health center, five tennis courts, a 46 bowling lanes, an Olympic-standard ice skating arena, and squash courts, which will be built later.

The hotel will have 11 meeting rooms on the third floor, which will be available for participating countries.

Joko said the hotel would have 12 lifts, each with a capacity to carry 28 people.

"About 300 people can go down at the same time in seconds," he said. (yan)