"I can say that this volleyball development center in Indonesia is one of the best in the world," Graca stated here on Saturday.
The Jenderal Kunarto Volleyball Center is one of the FIVB development centers in the world along with Thailand, Bahrain, India, and the Dominican Republic.
Graca, FIVB officials, and Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) officials, including the AVC President Rita Subowo and AVC Secretary-General Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai, visited the Jenderal Kunarto Volleyball Center on Thursday (March 16).
Chairman of the Indonesian Volleyball Federation (PBVSI) Imam Sudjarwo and his staff welcomed their visit.
The volleyball development center has been designated as a center of excellence and will receive annual support of US$20 thousand (around Rp307.5 million) from FIVB.
The Jenderal Kunarto Volleyball Center was inaugurated in 1995 by the former President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Juan Antonio Samaranch, and has an area of 57 thousand square meters.
The center, which was used as the venue for Indonesia's top-level competition Proliga in 2021, offers complete facilities, such as training, competition, and beach courts.
Graca said these facilities indeed support players' training, and to help advance volleyball in Indonesia, FIVB will provide training assistance by sending in its technical and physical instructors.
"We will also give additional equipment as part of our support if needed. The Indonesian Volleyball Development Center will be the main facility to develop Indonesian volleyball talents," Graca stated.
Meanwhile, PBVSI's Head of Achievement and Development, Heyzer Harsono, stated that the assistance provided by FIVB to Indonesia is long-term training.
"FIVB will help Indonesia in long-term training. The target is for the men's team to enter the 2032 Olympics, if not, the 2028 Olympics," Harsono stated.
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Translator: M Ramdan, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
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