Minister of Sports Continues to Run Budget Efficiency to Be Accurate Sasara

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir stated that his ministry would continue to run budget efficiency so that it was targeted according to the needs and targets of youth and sports development.

"Of course we at the Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue to streamline the budget to be targeted. That's what we're doing right now," said Erick after attending the 2026 Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Member Meeting in Jakarta, Saturday.

The efficiency of the budget carried out by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) has recently come under public scrutiny because it has an impact on the cancellation of a number of programs, including the National Sports Week (Popnas) 2026.

In addition, the National Sports Training Center (SPOBNAS) program for the 2026 fiscal year has also been suspended.

However, the Minister of Youth and Sports ensured that flagship programs such as preparing athletes for multi-branch events such as the 2026 Asian Games will continue.

He said that he had heard input from KOI and the sports branch managers regarding funding to build sports achievements due to the impact of budget efficiency and so on.

The Minister of Youth and Sports ensured that despite the budget efficiency, President Prabowo Subianto's support in building sports was not in doubt.

"He (President Prabowo Subianto) is a sports figure, he is part of national sports. Including myself, I am also part of national sports," he said.

Furthermore, the Minister of Youth and Sports explained that despite the efficiency, his party still submitted a request to the Minister of Finance in accordance with the President's direction to carry out the national training concentration program (pelatnas) on an ongoing basis.

The National Training Center, he said, is run periodically such as the short-term national training center for the 2026 Asian Games, the medium-term national training center for the 2027 SEA Games, and then for the 2028 Olympics.

"This is what we are rearranging with the Ministry of Finance. I hope that the team in the cabinet, which also leads many federations, can also help talk to (members) of the cabinet," he said.

The Minister of Youth and Sports feels optimistic that many officials in the cabinet who are involved in the world of sports can help provide an understanding of the national program that the President wants.