Surabaya DPRD pushes 'sportainment' concept for 2027 East Java Porprov
Surabaya, East Java - Deputy Speaker of the Surabaya Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) Arif Fathoni is pushing for a ‘sportainment’ concept for the 2027 East Java Provincial Sports Week (Porprov), following Surabaya’s selection as the host city. He stated that the largest sporting event in East Java is a strategic moment to demonstrate Surabaya’s capacity as a world-class city through professional, modern, and memorable organisation.
Fathoni emphasised that preparations should not focus solely on venue readiness and athlete performance. He believes the city government needs to develop an organisational concept that provides a unique experience for participants and visitors alike. Consequently, he is encouraging the 2027 Porprov to be packaged with a sportainment concept that combines sports, entertainment, arts, and technology. ‘Now, sports have entered the sportainment era. Therefore, the elements of sportainment must start to be built,’ he said.
He proposed that the opening and closing ceremonies be made more attractive through the use of technology such as drone shows, multimedia performances, and cultural attractions that reflect Surabaya’s identity as both a modern and historic city. According to him, a spectacular event package will be part of a city branding strategy to strengthen Surabaya’s image at the regional and national levels. ‘I hope the implementation of the Porprov will feature a drone show or other innovations that can show the people of Surabaya, East Java, and even Indonesia that Surabaya has become a world-class city,’ he stated.
He explained that the success of Surabaya as a host is not only measured by the number of medals won but also by the quality of the event, which provides the best experience for all contingents and leaves a positive impression on guests. ‘If we successfully host the Porprov with a modern, professional, and memorable package, public trust will increase. This is not just about sports; it is a long-term investment for the city’s image, economic growth, and the opportunity for Surabaya to host various national and international events in the future,’ he said.
He assessed that beyond the medal competitions, the Porprov has a significant economic impact on the community. The presence of thousands of athletes, officials, supporters, and guests is believed to stimulate the hotel, culinary, transportation, MSME, and tourism sectors in the City of Heroes. ‘This Porprov is not just a sports competition. It is a momentum to drive the people’s economy. Hotels will be full, restaurants busy, MSMEs get selling opportunities, transportation moves, and the tourism sector feels the impact. Therefore, preparations must be truly mature so that the benefits are felt by the wider community,’ Fathoni said.