History Today April 16, 1970: Bulungan Youth Center Inaugurated By The Governor Of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin

Governor of DKI Jakarta 1966-1977, Ali Sadikin who pioneered the construction of the Bulungan Youth Center in South Jakarta as the first youth center in Indonesia. (PERPUSNAS)

JAKARTA – History today, 52 years ago, April 16, 1970, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Ali Sadikin inaugurated the Bulungan Youth Center (GR), South Jakarta. The inauguration was carried out as a form of seriousness of the DKI Jakarta Government in developing arts, culture, and sports.

The arena has complete facilities. From sports halls and halls to performing arts. Even Jakarta's artists who are commonly known as Bulungan artists are growing. As a result, GR Bulungan is known as a hangout place for Jakarta slang.

Ali Sadikin's role in developing Jakarta is quite large. He not only built Jakarta, but also helped improve the fate of its citizens. He tried to understand all the dynamics of Jakarta one by one. He does not want Jakarta to be considered slum or uncultured by neighboring countries. He also tried to make a breakthrough. From revolutionary to controversial.

All criticism is accepted. However, he was not discouraged. He still wants to organize Jakarta from the big village to a metropolitan. He wants Jakarta to excel on all fronts. Including arts, culture, and sports. Expanded sports facilities. Likewise, the center of culture and arts.

The man who is familiarly called Bang Ali wants to create an ecosystem that can support all three at once. So that Jakarta is not underestimated by other big cities. Ajian Ali succeeded. Jakarta is able to excel in all lines.

The laying of the first stone for the construction of the Bulungan Youth Center by the Governor of DKI Jakarta from 1966 to 1977, Ali Sadikin on (far right) on June 25, 1969. (PERPUSNAS)

The Metropolitan City was able to come out as the champion of the National Sports Week (PON) many times. This victory is proof of Ali Sadikin's success that his stubbornness can bring Jakarta forward. Especially in culture and art. Ali Sadikin is directly involved in supporting the creation of a creative ecosystem in Jakarta.

“On that occasion I explained why I built sports facilities. Sport is very positive in channeling youth talents and activities. We provide these facilities to teenagers, to exercise judo, karate, pencak silat, swimming, athletics, football. It has been proven, Jakarta excels in PON VII, in Surabaya, Jakarta excels in PON VIII in PON in Makassar, and in Palembang Jakarta becomes the champion again."

“Jakarta does not only want to build physical. Jakarta also wants to build morals. Jakarta wants to be a cultural center city. That's why Jakarta provides facilities for teenagers to be active in one positive thing, in the field of art," said Ali Sadikin as written by Ramadhan KH in the book Bang Ali: For the sake of Jakarta 1966-1977 (1992).

Five Youth Center

The idea of GR's presence became the culmination of Bang Ali's seriousness in developing the fields of sports, culture, art. He also launched the construction of five GR which are located in Jakarta. Bang Ali wants GR to be a place for teenagers to use their free time for positive things.

The idea then began to be realized on June 25, 1969. That date became the momentum for laying the first stone of the arena which became known as GOR Bulungan. Bang Ali then attended the inauguration on April 16, 1970. He also inaugurated one of the most historic GR in Indonesia.

The Bulungan Youth Center, South Jakarta, 52 years ago, was inaugurated by the Governor of DKI Jakarta from 1966 to 1977, Ali Sadikin. (WIKIPEDIA)

“The youth arena was initiated by the Governor of DKI Jakarta from 1966 to 1977, Ali Sadikin. He wanted an area that could accommodate the excitement of young people, both in the arts and in sports. The first project that was built was the Bulungan Youth Center in Kebayoran Baru in 1970.”

“To accommodate a variety of activities and make it ogled as a place to hang out, this arena is equipped with a sports hall and performance space. There was a time when this arena became a magnet for young artists, such as Noorca M. Massardi, Renny Djajusman, Yudhistira ANM Massardi, Radhar Panca Dahana, and Anto Beret," concluded Isma Savitri in an article in Tempo Magazine entitled The Forgotten Feet of TIM (2020) .

That is the historical record for today, the inauguration of the first youth center in Indonesia, the Bulungan Jakarta Youth Center by Ali Sadikin on April 16, 1970.