NOC Indonesia President Raja Sapta Oktohari emphasized that sport diplomacy is a bridge to strengthen international friendships and promote peace through the spirit of sportsmanship.
"Sports, in essence, unite people, not divide them. This is the essence of sport diplomacy, which we continue to uphold," said Raja Sapta Oktohari during a press conference for the Jakarta Gymnastics 2025 at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on Friday.
Regarding the developments surrounding the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2025 in Jakarta, Okto explained that NOC Indonesia has been in close coordination with the government, including the Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir and the Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, and Immigration Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
"We respect every decision made by the government, which takes into account various considerations. The gymnastics community, including FIG (International Gymnastics Federation), the Asian Federation, and Indonesia's national federations, also supports the decisions made by the Indonesian government," Okto said.
Furthermore, Okto expressed optimism that the first-ever World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta would be successful, thanks to close cooperation between national federations, the government, NOC, and regional and international federations.
"Insya Allah, with the support of all parties, Indonesia will make history by hosting the World Gymnastics Championships for the first time. This is a real example of solid cross-institution collaboration," said Okto.
Okto views the event not only as a competition but also as a key moment to expand the popularity of gymnastics in Indonesia.
He also expressed appreciation to the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, for his strong commitment to developing gymnastics, including the construction of modern training facilities in Cibubur, which have been directly inspected by FIG President Morinari Watanabe.
"The spirit is unity and togetherness to elevate gymnastics. With full support from the government and all parties involved, we are confident that gymnastics, as the mother of sports in Olympic events, will grow rapidly in Indonesia," Okto stated.
"We want Indonesia not only to participate but to also be recognized as a host. The success of the World Gymnastics Championships will be an important stepping stone and will draw global attention to Indonesia’s ability to host international sports events in the future."
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Translator: Arindra, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Primayanti
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