Meet Bhin-bhin, Ika, Atung, Asian Games 2018 Mascots
Jakarta. The Indonesian Olympic Committee officially launched the Asian Games 2018 logo and mascots — Bhin-bhin, Ika and Atung — at the Presidential Palace on Thursday (28/07).
The logo and mascots were selected from 56 top designs in a competition held by Creative Economic Agency, or Bekraf. The final designs were approved by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.
"The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has also approved the designs, so they're official," Sports Ministry spokesman Gatot Dewa Broto said in a statement.
The government is banking on the Asian Games to boost tourism, with a plan to kick off a national branding strategy during the games, according to Teten Masduki, head of the Presidential staff.
The 2018 Asian Games logo's theme is "Energy of Asia" — inspired by the roof design of the Gelora Bung Karno sport complex in Jakarta, the main venue of the 1963 Asian Games.
The mascots meanwhile reflect Indonesia's diversity, with eastern Indonesia being represented by the iconic Cendrawasih bird Bhin-bhin, western Indonesia by the one-horned rhino Ika and central Indonesia by the Bawean deer Atung.
Indonesia has chosen Jakarta and Palembang as the main venues for Asia's biggest sporting event in 2018.
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