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Public communication expert in Indonesia, Effendi Ghazali, gave a several of important notes regarding the implementation of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang. Speaking at a TV station in Indonesia, Ghazali saw the opening of the Asian Games from another side which had rarely appeared to the public who was more amazed by the festive opening ceremony of the Asian Games at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

As a general assessment of the Indonesian people, Ghazali also agreed that the opening was very lively and stunning. However, according to Ghazali, the duration of the opening was too long so that most of the people living in the arena were Indonesian athletes. "If the duration is right, the opening ceremony will be more interesting because it finds the right momentum," he said in a talk show that actually had nothing to do with sports.

Another part of Ghazali's note is that the 18th Asian Games tagline is Energy of Asia which is not reflected in the opening. According to Ghazali, the opening ceremony should not only describe Indonesia's diversity, but Asia's diversity and energy to be more in line with the tagline. "Maybe it can be repaired at the closing ceremony," Ghazali said.

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In 1990 or 28 years ago, there was a big event in the world that took place in Italy, namely the World Cup. The World Cup theme song at the time was titled The Blue Italian Sky which glorified the greatness of Italian clubs that used a distinctive blue jersey. There is no picture of the diversity of countries that qualified for the World Cup, both in the opening and closing ceremonies that I witnessed on TVRI at that time. Compared to the theme song Meraih Bintang (Reaching the Stars) sung by Via Vallen, the Indonesian-language song certainly sounds more neutral because it does not cultivate Indonesia.

Ghazali's advice was ideal even though it was too late because the ceremony had already taken place. To illustrate the diversity or energy of Asia at the closing ceremony, it seems impossible because it has been prepared in advance. Asian colors cannot only be found in ceremonies, but there are many other dimensions to describe energy of Asia.

As the host, indeed Indonesia has a number of advantages, including packaging the opening ceremony or closing ceremony or in choosing a theme song. Indonesia also has the opportunity to give a strong impression to all Asian countries so that the support of hosting the future Olympics is wide open. If that happens, the world will see the colorful world in Indonesia.[]

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Keberagaman Asia di Asian Games 2018

Pakar komunikasi publik di Indonesia, Effendi Ghazali, memberikan sejumlah catatan penting mengenai pelaksanaan Asian Games 2018 di Jakarta dan Palembang. Menjadi pembicara di sebuah stasiun TV di Indonesia, Ghazali melihat pembukaan Asian Games dari sisi lain yang selama ini jarang muncul ke publik yang lebih terpukau dengan kemeriahan upacara pembukaan Asian Games di Stadion Gelora Bung Karno.

Sebagaimana penilaian umum masyarakat Indonesia, Ghazali juga sepakat bahwa pembukaan sangat meriah dan memukau. Namun, menurut Ghazali durasi pembukaan terlalu panjang sehingga kemudian yang tinggal di arena sebagian besar adalah atlet Indonesia saja. “Kalau durasinya tepat, acara pembukaan akan lebih menarik karena menemukan momentum yang tepat,” katanya dalam acara talkshow yang sebenarnya tidak ada hubungannya dengan olahraga.

Bagian lain yang menjadi catatan Ghazali adalah tagline Asian Games ke-18 adalah Energy of Asia yang tidak tergambar dalam pembukaan. Seharusnya, menurut Ghazali, upacara pembukaan tidak hanya menggambarkan keberagaman Indonesia, tetapi keberagaman dan energi Asia agar lebih sejalan dengan tagline. “Barangkali bisa diperbaiki di upacara penutupan,” kata Ghazali.

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Pada 1990 atau 28 tahun lalu, ada sebuah even besar di dunia yang berlangsung di Italia, yakni Piala Dunia. Theme song Piala Dunia waktu itu berjudul The Blue Italian Sky yang mengagungkan kebesaran klub Italia yang menggunakan jersey khas warna biru. Tidak ada gambaran keberagaman negara-negara yang lolos ke Piala Dunia, baik dalam upacara pembukaan maupun penutupan yang saya saksikan di TVRI waktu itu. Dibandingkan theme song Meraih Bintang yang dinyanyikan Via Vallen, lagu berbahasa Indonesia itu tentunya lebih terdengar netral karena tidak mengkultuskan Indonesia.

Saran Ghazali memang ideal meski sudah terlambat karena upacara sudah berlangsung. Untuk menggambarkan keberagaman atau energi Asia pada upacara penutupan pun, sepertinya sudah tidak mungkin sebab sudah dipersiapkan jauh-jauh hari. Warna-warni Asia tidak hanya bisa ditemukan dalam upacara, tetapi masih banyak dimensi lain untuk menggambarkan energi Asia.

Sebagai tuan rumah, memang Indonesia memperoleh sejumlah keuntungan, termasuk dalam mengemas upacara pembukaan atau upacara penutupan atau dalam memilih theme song. Indonesia juga memiliki kesempatan memberikan kesan yang kuat bagi seluruh negara Asia sehingga dukungan menjadi tuan rumah Olimpiade di masa mendatang terbuka lebar. Kalau itu terjadi, maka dunia akan melihat warna-warni dunia di Indonesia.[]

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