KONI Ensures PON 2028 to Use Buffer Province

JAKARTA - The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) has confirmed that it will use a buffer province for the 2028 National Sports Week (PON) in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

KONI Central Chairman, Marciano Norman, said that the decision regarding the buffer province or the support for the four-year event would be determined soon.

"This week we determined the buffer province considering that there is no new development of facilities and infrastructure," said Marciano in an official statement received.

The issue of the buffer province of PON NTB-NTT 2028 was previously also conveyed by the Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir some time ago. The decision to use the buffer province was due to the existence of a budget efficiency scheme for the construction of new venues.

Jakarta is also one of the provinces that is a strong candidate to become a buffer for the largest national multi-branch sports festival. However, the main title of the event remains PON XXII/2028 NTT-NTB.

One of the sports that will likely take place in Jakarta is the equestrian competition. The tournament is planned to be held at the Jakarta International Equestrian Park Pulomas (JIEPP).

The Chairman of the National Federation of Pordasi Equestrian, Dewi Larasati or Tike, said that JIEPP Pulomas is one of the most likely facilities and has international standards.

"If equestrian is held in Jakarta, it is likely to use the Jakarta International Equestrian Park Pulomas (JIEPP), which was used for the 2018 Asian Games," he said.

PON 2028 will compete in Olympic sports, sports branches that are included in the National Sports Master Plan (DBON), and of course the second flagship sports of the host.