"A strategic plan involving many parties is needed for facilities, such as the Lukas Enembe Stadium, aquatic venue, shooting range, gymnastic venue, and basketball court, to encourage them to become locations for developing sports," Norman said as quoted from InfoPublik, Wednesday.
Norman urged the government and sports organizations in the region to regularly conduct sports events at the local and national levels for at least five times a year.
Sports facilities for the Papua PON should be utilized as training centers to develop the flagship sports in eastern Indonesia, according to Norman.
The KONI chairperson also called on the management of the central training teams to consider Papua as the location for the national training centers; for instance, the national swimming team can train at the aquatic stadium at the Papua Bangkit sports complex, Jayapura District.
"KONI will encourage sports officials to hold events (in Papua), for instance, the Indonesian Motorcycle Association (IMI) to hold events at the motorcycle venue in Merauke. I also encourage the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) to hold football championships in Merauke and Jayapura, so that the existing facilities can be used," he remarked.
Norman is optimistic that by holding local and national sports championships in Papua, Indonesia's achievements in sports would be elevated, especially to rank in the top 30 to 20 in the Olympics.
PON 2021 is being held on October 2-15, 2021, with the participation of 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia in 37 sports.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially opened the event at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Sentani, Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday, October 2, 2021. However, competitions in some sports had started earlier in mid-September of 2021.
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Translator: Imam Santoso, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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