NTB, NTT, and Jakarta Officially Appointed as Joint Hosts of 2028 PON
Three provinces—West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and DKI Jakarta—have been officially appointed as joint hosts of the XXII National Sports Week (PON) in 2028. The certainty was obtained following the handover of the Host Designation Decree (SK) by the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Erick Thohir. The SK was handed directly to the three regional heads at the Kemenpora office in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday (23/6/2026). The event was combined with a coordination meeting with Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung, NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, and NTT Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena.
Menpora Erick Thohir stated that this designation is the first step towards strengthening coordination between the central and regional governments to prepare for PON 2028 in a mature and measured manner. “Today we begin the big process towards PON 2028. Synergy between the central and regional governments is key so that all preparation stages run well and the implementation of PON has a positive impact on the development of national sports,” said Erick. He emphasised that the organisation of PON 2028 must prioritise transparent and accountable governance. The former Minister of State-Owned Enterprises also warned that the administrative issues that had arisen in previous PON implementations should not be repeated.
In addition to governance issues, Erick said the government will also prioritise leading sports branches that are the focus of national development. This step is expected to boost the achievements of Indonesian athletes on the international stage, from the SEA Games and Asian Games to the Olympics. Regarding infrastructure, Erick asked the three hosts to pay attention to the need for facilities and infrastructure that require revitalisation. In line with the budget efficiency policy, the government will prioritise the optimisation of existing facilities over building new venues. “In accordance with the budget efficiency policy, we prioritise the optimisation of available facilities compared to building new venues,” Erick stressed.
On the other hand, NTB Governor Lalu Muhamad Iqbal welcomed the issuance of this SK with great enthusiasm. According to him, the decision is a momentum that the people of NTB and NTT have been eagerly awaiting. “This designation provides the certainty we have been waiting for. With the issuance of the SK, all preparations can be carried out in a more focused and measured manner,” said Iqbal. The former Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey mentioned that NTB and NTT have actually been making various preparations over the last two years as a form of commitment to the success of PON 2028. He also confirmed that most of the sports facilities to be used are already ready, so they do not require construction from scratch. “Facilities for the sports branches to be competed in are basically already in place. Our focus is to ensure all venues are ready for use and meet the implementation standards,” concluded Iqbal.