"We welcome Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo who instructed to make gymnastics a compulsory sport in schools," Head of the East Java Youth and Sports Office M. Ali Kuncoro said here on Friday.
According to him, the Youth and Sports Ministry's policy aligns with East Java's tagline of "Fresh East Java (Jatim Seger)."
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has launched the Jatim Seneng Gerak Program to encourage people to exercise more.
Gymnastics has many health benefits for the body, such as building children's cognitive abilities and motor skills and improving the health of bones and organs.
"Gymnastics can improve body coordination, agility, and balance," Kuncoro said.
Gymnastics is the "mother of sports," he added.
"Gymnastics plays an important role in all sports. Therefore, it should be intensified in schools where the young people are," he said.
Making gymnastics mandatory in schools is expected to help potential young athletes to emerge.
Kuncoro said that the implementation of gymnastics as a compulsory sport in schools in East Java is still pending a ministerial regulation.
Then, the implementation is waiting for the issuance of a governor's circular letter that will be sent to local governments and schools.
"In principle, we are ready and welcome the policy, which will add to the spirit of advancing sports, and improve the quality of students' health in East Java," Kuncoro said.
On a separate occasion, Minister Ariotedjo said gymnastics, as the mother of sport, must be promoted.
"This is what the President wants: coaching and growing (athletes) from an early age. We believe gymnastics is a sport that forms the foundation of youth," he added.
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Translator: Abdul H, Hanif N, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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