Abstract:
Being the host country for a prestigious international multisport event such as The
2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games proves to be a great opportunity for
Indonesia to elevate their national brand as a country through different aspects that
eventually changed Indonesia’s international position in the world’s eyes. Despite
initial doubts from other countries about Indonesia's ability to host such a
significant event, the purpose of this thesis paper is to analyze how Indonesia has
utilized The 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games as an instrument to improve
Indonesia’s image and reputation. Using qualitative methods, this thesis paper will
make use of the public diplomacy theory, nation branding theory, and sports
diplomacy theory to further analyze the effectivity of The 2018 Jakarta Palembang
Asian Games as a national branding instrument and the impact it has given to
Indonesia afterwards, which was proven to be very much beneficial not just for
uplifting Indonesia as a country but the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games has
also left the nation with the mark of pride, a better sporting spirit, confidence, and a bargaining tool that will come in handy for the future. By effectively utilizing public diplomacy, nation branding, and sport diplomacy, Indonesia successfully projected its identity as a forward-looking nation with rich cultural heritage and unwavering sporting fervor. The insights from this research offer valuable lessons and inspiration for other countries seeking to leverage major sporting events as potent instruments for shaping national identity and global perception.
