Athletes' village nearly ready

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)