Low-priced tickets will be "available for students who want to witness the 2018 Asian Games" held in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, next month, according to Amal Ganesha of the JAKARTA GLOBE. A public debate "was ignited recently," when the Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) released the event's ticket pricing. The prices ranged from Rp 750,000 ($51.80) to Rp 5M ($345.30) for the opening ceremony. The cheapest tickets for the event's competitions were sold for Rp 50,000 ($3.45), "which is still expensive in Indonesia, where the annual income per capita is $4,000." INASGOC Deputy for Operations Harry Warganegara Harun said, "We're planning to have special prices for students, some tickets will be even free. We'll announce the details later" (JAKARTA GLOBE, 7/20).
'STRONGLY CONDEMNED': The PTI reported the All India Football Federation on Sunday condemned the Indian Olympic Association's "decision to drop the national football teams from the upcoming Asian Games contingent." The AIFF said, "The Committee strongly condemned Indian Olympic Association's decision to debar football teams from participating in the forthcoming Asian Games scheduled to be held in Jakarta." The IOA earlier this month omitted the men's and women's football teams from the Asian Games contingent, saying that they do not "stand a chance to win medals in the continental event" (PTI, 7/22).