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Indonesia faces "huge" challenges in organizing the
multi-sport event, particularly coordination of government
agencies, the Olympic Council of Asia said last month, media
reported.
A police investigation into the alleged embezzlement of nearly
$700,000 from promotional funds also led to two senior officials
of the Indonesian Olympic panel being suspended late last year,
after they were named as suspects.
"We are optimistic we will finish the main venues by the end of
the year," Kalla said in an interview at the presidential palace
in central Jakarta on Friday.
"Sometimes there is a possibility for delay and ... if anything
happens we still have six months to finalize," added Kalla, who
was charged with overseeing preparations last month, after
President Joko Widodo raised worries about progress.
Organizers expect more than 30,000 people to be involved in the
events, from athletes to coaches, he added.
Held every four years, the games will take place in the capital
and the south Sumatra city of Palembang in August and September
next year. Athletes from 45 Asian nations will compete in sports
from badminton to the Chinese martial art of wushu.
Indonesia last hosted the games in 1962.
The graft probe will not disrupt preparations, however, Kalla
added.
"If anything, everybody is being more responsible and careful
about the organizing," he told Reuters.
(Reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
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