1962 Asian Games

IV Asian Games

File:4th asiad.png
Host city	Jakarta, Indonesia
Motto	Ever Onward (Indonesian: Madju Terus)
Nations	15
Athletes	1,460
Events	120 in 13 sports
Opening	24 August 1962
Closing	4 September 1962
Opened by	Sukarno President of Indonesia
Closed by	Hamengkubuwono IX President of the Asian Games Federation
Athlete's Oath	Ferry Sonneville
Torch lighter	Effendi Saleh
Main venue	Gelora Bung Karno Stadium

The 1962 Asian Games (Indonesian: Pesta Olahraga Asia 1962) also known as the 4th Asian Games, IV Asiad, and Jakarta 1962, were the fourth edition of pan-Asian multi-sport event sanctioned by the Asian Games Federation (AGF). The games were held from 24 August to 4 September 1962, in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was the first international multi-sport event hosted by the then-17-year-old Southeast Asian country. This was the first of two Asian Games hosted by the city: the second was held in 2018, with Palembang as the co-host.

Israel and the Republic of China (ROC) were excluded from the Games, as in solidarity with People's Republic of China and fellow-Muslim majority countries in the Middle East, Indonesian immigration officials refused to issue entry visas for the Israeli and Taiwanese delegations.

It was a breach of the rules of the AGF, and Indonesia's own promise to invite all AGF members, including those with whom it had no diplomatic relations (Israel and Republic Of China).

As a result, Indonesia was suspended from the International Olympic Committee, and were subsequently excluded from the 1964 Summer Olympics. Indonesia responded to this punishment by hosting the Games of the New Emerging Forces in 1963.

A total number of 1,460 athletes, coming from 17 countries, competed in this Asiad, where badminton made its debut.

Bid

On 23 May 1958, voting for the 1962 host took place in Tokyo, Japan, before the 1958 Asian Games. The Asian Games Federation council voted 22–20 in favour of the Indonesian capital over Pakistani city of Karachi, the only other candidate.

1962 Asian Games bidding result

City	Nation	Votes
Jakarta	Indonesia	22
Karachi	Pakistan	20

Games perceived as Indonesian pride

Indonesia, only recently out from the shackles of colonialism, saw the fourth Asian games as its national pride. On 9 April 1961, President Sukarno, while referring to these games, said in Bandung:

We wish to become a new Indonesian man who can face the world with open eyes, upright, with a strong physique, strong mentally and spiritually. Thus, Indonesians should not only become stronger and more healthy, and therefore better workers (and soldiers), but also develop greater self-consciousness now that they were an independent people.

Keeping this principle in mind, it acquired a loan of 12.5 million US dollars from Russia. With the help of Russian experts, a giant stadium was built, which could accommodate 100,000 spectators. Jakarta was renovated, and the efforts at renewal included complete removal of beggars and prostitutes. Indonesian pride was so high at that time, that it did not invite Israel and Taiwan despite both being members of the Asian Games Federation [AGF].

Venues

File:Sukarno, Sang Saka Melanglang Djagad, p12.jpg

President Sukarno opened this Asiad.

All but three official sports were held inside or around the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, temporarily called the Asian Games Complex. The shooting event was held in Cibubur Shooting Range, in what is now lies within East Jakarta. The weightlifting and wrestling events were held at Ikada Sports Hall, now demolished to make way for the National Monument. The nearby Ikada Stadium was also used for football event, as well as Tebet football pitch, located southeast of the complex. The archery demonstration event was held at Menteng Stadium.

Sports

While Weightlifting was in the program, the IWF withdrew recognition of the Asian Games competition after the Indonesian federation barred Taiwan and Israel from taking part.

• File:Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics (32) ()
• File:Badminton pictogram.svg Badminton (6) ()
• File:Basketball pictogram.svg Basketball (1) ()
• File:Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing (10) ()
• File:Cycling (road) pictogram.svg Cycling (4) ()
• File:Diving pictogram.svg Diving (4) ()
• File:Field hockey pictogram.svg Field hockey (1) ()
• File:Football pictogram.svg Football (1) ()

• File:Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting (5) ()
• File:Swimming pictogram.svg Swimming (21) ()
• File:Table tennis pictogram.svg Table tennis (7) ()
• File:Tennis pictogram.svg Tennis (7) ()
• File:Volleyball (indoor) pictogram.svg Volleyball (4) ()
• File:Water polo pictogram.svg Water polo (1) ()
• File:Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling (16) ()

Exhibition sports

• File:Archery pictogram.svg Archery (3) ()

Participating nations

Athletes from 15 nations competed at the Asian Games.

Number of athletes by National Olympic Committees (by highest to lowest)

Medal table

Main article: 1962 Asian Games medal table

File:Asian Games 1962 stamp of Indonesia 20.jpg

Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on a 1962 stamp of Indonesia

File:Asian Games 1962 stamp of Indonesia 22.jpg

A stamp of Indonesia claiming road improvement for the 1962 Asian Games

The top ten ranked NOCs at these Games are listed below. The host nation, Indonesia, is highlighted.

  *   Host nation (Indonesia)

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	File:Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Japan (JPN)	73	56	23	152
2	File:Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia (INA)*	11	12	28	51
3	File:Flag of India.svg India (IND)	10	13	10	33
4	File:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan (PAK)	8	11	9	28
5	File:Flag of the Philippines (1936–1985, 1986–1998).svg Philippines (PHI)	7	6	24	37
6	File:Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg South Korea (KOR)	4	9	10	23
7	File:Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand (THA)	2	6	4	12
8	File:Flag of Malaya.svg Malaya (MAL)	2	4	9	15
9	File:Flag of Burma (1948–1974).svg Burma (BIR)	2	1	5	8
10	File:Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore (SIN)	1	0	2	3
11–15	Remaining	0	4	6	10
Totals (15 entries)		120	122	130	372

Broadcasting

In Indonesia, a television station TVRI was established by the Indonesian government to broadcast the games for the general public, which was the first in the country. The station would become the main channel of TVRI network; and its first airdate, which coincides with the opening ceremony, become the network's founding date.