JAKARTA – President Joko Widodo found himself flavour of the month onsocial media on Sunday as Indonesians lapped up his motorbike stunt skit atthe Asian Games opening ceremony.
A motorbike stuntman posing as Widodo, known as ‘Jokowi’, leapt off a rampand pulled other tricks in Jakarta’s streets before riding into the GeloraBung Karno stadium and disappearing into the basement.
Widodo then walked out of an elevator and took his seat in the VIP section,prompting laughter and cheers in the stadium — and a favourable reactionon social media.
“I nearly cried, Koreans are calling Jokowi oppa (brother) after watchinghim riding the bike, and now they want him to give them a ride,” oneTwitter user posted, while another likened him to Hollywood star.
“It seems like Jokowi will star in the next sequel of Mission Impossible,”read the tweet.
Widodo, 57, who was also spotted gyrating in his seat to music during theceremony, joked about the motorbike video sequence with his 10 millionfollowers on Twitter.
“Who was riding the bike? Manoeuvring and doing stops and arriving on timeat GBK last night? hehehe,” he tweeted.
The Asian Games, declared open by Widodo at the ceremony on Saturday,features 18,000 athletes and officials and is being held in Jakarta andPalembang. – APP/AFP