Papua Deserves To Be Athlete Development Center

JAKARTA - The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) stated that coaching athletes in eastern Indonesia will be centered in Papua Province which has adequate sports infrastructure after hosting the XX National Sports Week (PON).

"Later, Papua Province can hold a national training center or national training center," said the General Chairperson of the Central KONI, Marciano Norman, as quoted by Antara from InfoPublik, Friday.

Marciano considered that Papua was worthy of being the center of development because this easternmost region of Indonesia has the potential for quality athletes and an international standard competition arena.

While visiting the Media Center of Kominfo PON Papua Mimika Cluster, Hotel Grand Mozza, Timika, Marciano said, a number of international standard sports facilities were available in Papua, including athletic stadiums and swimming arenas.

Marciano emphasized that KONI will prepare international standard coaches in order to produce world-class athletes.

"With quality coaches, coaching can also be good so that achievements can be achieved," he said.

Previously, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) had completed a number of international standard sports facilities to support the 2021 Papua PON activities, including the supporting infrastructure.

The four international standard sports facilities are the Aquatic Arena, Istora Papua Bangkit, Cricket Venue, and Hockey Field (indoor and outdoor).

The Aquatic Arena and Istora Papua Bangkit are located in the Kampung Harapan Sports area of 32 hectares.

In this complex, the Lukas Enembe Main Stadium has also been built, equipped with a scoreboard from Italy, time system equipment from Switzerland, and FIFA standard LED lights from Germany with a power of 1.800 Lux.

There are also other facilities including a training/warm up field, stadium safe zone, and a parking area.

The skating arena is located in the Waena Campground area, Jayapura City with a land area of 26.520 m2 and a building area of 6.067 m2. This arena is equipped with several facilities and infrastructure to support the venue, such as a tribune with a capacity of 650 people, a lighting system for the 1.501 lux track, and 449 lux safe zone lighting, a sound system, and a scoring board.

Then an archery arena was built in the Kampung Harapan sports complex area, East Sentani District, Jayapura Regency. This venue utilizes an area of 40.863 m2 and a building area of 1.217 m2 with the Cycloop mountain landscape as its main attraction.

The PON archery area is also equipped with a 10.100 m2 playing field and an 8.207 m2 training field. The match field is also equipped with a drainage system under the field, lighting, and sound system.