"We have already set our ultimate goal: global-level achievements. Hence, athletes' training is a must because we would not achieve anything without training," Amali said, according to a statement released by the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) here on Monday.
During KONI's national meeting here on Monday, the minister highlighted preparations for the XXI PON National Games, which are expected to take place in Aceh and North Sumatra in 2024.
"This will be our first (time) to organize PON Games in two provinces. I am convinced that the Central KONI chairperson and the management board are capable of the task," he said.
He also urged the hosts to make efforts to enhance the organizational quality and facilities of the PON Games compared with their previous edition in Papua last year, which had been dubbed a success.
Amali then pointed out the need to genuinely improve athletes' training quality to achieve government targets and putting an end to shortcut tactics for bagging more medals, such as athlete transfers.
"There was a trend (of athlete transfers) in earlier PON Games, particularly from the host desiring to win medals as much as possible," he noted.
Cross-province transfers of athletes may benefit a province in the short term, but they would harm athletes' training and development in the long term, the minister warned.
In line with Amali, Central KONI Chairperson Marciano Norman also urged provincial KONI committees to improve athletes' training and discouraged athlete transfers.
"Regions must not take shortcut steps (by taking athletes) from those who work hard to train them well just to bag more medals and to become the overall champion," the chairperson remarked.
Related news: Govt prepares Bandung's UPI as training center for football team
Related news: Minister optimistic of Olympians contributing to sports grand plan
Translator: Zuhdiar Laeis, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
