Sports Minister and KONI Finalise PON 2028 Preparations, Focusing on Quality and International Achievement
Jakarta — Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir and chairman of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Marciano Norman held a meeting to discuss preparations for the 2028 National Sports Week (PON 2028). The meeting affirmed a new direction for PON, placing greater emphasis on quality, achievement, and social and economic impact.
In a statement released through his official social media accounts on Thursday, Erick Thohir stressed that PON 2028 must serve as a unifying event for the nation through the participation of the best athletes from across Indonesia.
“We at the Ministry of Youth and Sports want to ensure that PON 2028 becomes a unifying event for the nation through athletes from all regions of Indonesia,” Erick Thohir wrote.
The Sports Minister further explained that PON is not merely a national competition but also a stage for athletes to demonstrate their best abilities as part of a development pathway towards higher-level events, from the SEA Games through to the Asian Games.
Beyond the performance dimension, the staging of PON 2028 is also expected to deliver positive impact for the host regions, namely the provinces of Nusa Tenggara Barat and Nusa Tenggara Timur. Erick Thohir assessed that a national-scale sporting event can serve as a driver of regional economic growth, particularly through the tourism sector and the strengthening of local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Under the policy direction being prepared, PON 2028 will focus on sports disciplines that feature in the Olympic programme. As a consequence, the number of sports contested will be fewer than in previous editions of PON.
Meanwhile, KONI chairman Marciano Norman explained that improving quality is the primary focus for future editions of PON. One measure involves the application of specific standards for competing athletes, ensuring that PON truly becomes the highest-level domestic competition.
According to Marciano, the selection of sports to be contested will also become more targeted and aligned with Indonesia’s objectives for competing on the international stage.
Nevertheless, KONI will continue to provide competitive opportunities for sports disciplines not included in PON. Athletes and their respective federations can participate in other prestigious events such as the Indonesia Martial Art Games (IMAG), Indonesia Beach Games, Indonesia Indoor Games, and the PON Remaja or Indonesia Youth Games.