W
hen Erick Thohir, 47, took over as
head of the organizing commit-
tee of next year’s Asian Games in
Jakarta, he had mixed feelings. Planning had
fallen so far behind that the city faced losing
the event to Beijing. Jakarta had a bad record
when it came to putting on sporting events.
The capital’s attempt at hosting the 2011 South-
east Asian Games ended in disaster when two
died in a stampede at the soccer final between
Indonesia and Malaysia.
That experience prompted Thohir to set
strict terms when the country’s president,
Joko Widodo, asked him to take the job in
early 2015. Thohir, who is the founder and
chairman of media company Mahaka Group,
would put on the show with no responsibili-
ties for venues and athletes. “I said to him, ‘Mr.
President, I am not Superman. I am happy to
offer my expertise, but if I have to also ensure
that the venue is done and the athletes are
prepared, then forget it,’ ” Thohir recalls.
Few in Indonesia are better suited for the
task. Thohir—the brother of billionaire Garib-
aldi “Boy” Thohir (No. 23), who runs Adaro
Energy—is the only Indonesian known to own
stakes in international sports teams. He is a
shareholder in D.C. United, a U.S. soccer team,
and also had bought and sold a stake in the U.S.’
Philadelphia 76ers basketball team. In 2013
he bought a 70% stake in Italian football clubInter Milan (making Thohir the first Indone-
sian to control a major European sports team),
later selling the stake in 2016 to better focus
on his Asian Games role (he remains as Inter
Milan’s president).
Despite its bumpy start (Vietnam pulled
out in 2014) the games appear on track. A
dazzling launch event in August, featuring
acts such as K-Pop troupe Girls Generation
and Widodo showing off impressive archery
skills, helped focus attention and gener-
ate excitement. Sponsors like car service
Grab are stumping up a total of $80 million
to offset the inevitable government budget
cutbacks. “Sports creates enthusiasm,” says
Thohir. “People are united through sports.”
—Jeffrey HuttonSportsman Bro
Steps Up
“I am not Superman,” says Erick Thorir, regarding his
supervision of next year’s Asian Games in Jakarta.FUN & GAMESFOR METHODOLOGY AND ALL BIOS, GO TO FORBES.COM/INDONESIA.LIONEL NG/GETTY IMAGES FOR ICC
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