Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA) - The East Java government has allocated an additional budget of Rp15 billion (US$1 million) for the 2023 Provincial Sports Week VIII.

"This additional budget will be discussed, including the mechanism for addendum on regional grant agreement on grant," East Java's regional secretary Adhi Karyono said, according to a statement received in Surabaya on Saturday.

He also called for better training of all athletes involved in the competition.

"Create good standard for coaching so that our athletes can have the best skills and able to get the best achievements. Of course, we expect that East Java's achievements will consistently improve," he said.

The provincial government and East Java's National Sports Committee (KONI) have agreed to host the competition from September 9 to 16, 2023, he informed.

The decision was made after a meeting between East Java's regional government budget team, the province's youth and sports office, and the provincial representative of KONI, he said.

Sidoarjo, Mojokerto, and Jombang districts will host the competitions, Karyono added.

"According to a detailed discussion, it has been decided that the 2023 Provincial Sports Week VIII will be hosted on September 9 to 16, 2023, in the three designated districts," he stated.

He said that the provincial government will lend its utmost support to the sports week, as the competition will also serve as an opportunity to train for other national-scale sports weeks.

He also suggested that the athletes who win in the 2023 Provincial Sports Week VIII be granted special access in case they wish to serve as civil servants in the province.

"Just like what the Youth and Sports Ministry does. We will try to emulate it in East Java. We will coordinate with the State Apparatus Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform Ministry, we will pursue it," he remarked.

The head of East Java's Youth and Sports Office, M. Ali Kuncoro, disclosed that the September schedule for the sports week was fixed after due consideration.

"We have agreed to host the Provincial Sports Week on schedule because if it is pushed back, there would be so many issues; moreover, since the event hosts have made many technical preparations," he said.

The reward for winning athletes, which is a chance to become civil servants, is expected to motivate them, he added.

"Hopefully, this can motivate our athletes to get (the best) achievements," Kuncoro remarked.



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Translator: Abdul Hakim, Naufal Ammar I, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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