Menpora Wants To Popularize Gymnastics In Indonesia

JAKARTA - The Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Dito Ariotedjo, will try to popularize gymnastics in line with Indonesia's appointment to host the 2025 Gymnastics World Championships.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) officially confirmed that Indonesia will host the 53rd edition of the 2025 World Gymnastics World Championship by email on Friday, May 3, 2024.

Dito admits that the sport (sports) of gymnastics is currently not very popular in Indonesia. In fact, this is one of the most prestigious sports on international stages, such as the Olympics.

"I believe this is a sport that we must strengthen and focus on because game domestic sports are one of the most prestigious sports in the Olympics and the world," he said.

The 53rd edition of the Gymnastics World Championship will take place on 19-25 October 2025. There are approximately 500 athletes from 70 countries who will be contestants in this important event.

Dito said that in addition to the positive impact on the development of sports, this event will also encourage the Indonesian Gymnastics Association (Persani) to be more progressive in preparing its athletes.

"We believe that with the appointment of Indonesia as the host of the 2025 Gymnastics World Championships, the national game will automatically be more progressive in preparing athletes," said Dito.

This year's gymnastics sport managed to place one athlete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, namely Rifda Irfanaluthfi.

Tickets to France made Rifda also make history as the first gymnastics athlete to appear in the Olympics.

Rifda obtained confirmation towards Paris after she appeared at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championship in Antwerp, Belgium. The athlete, currently 24 years old, has qualified through the relocation route from the host.