Kemenpora Will Create A Match Model Amid COVID-19

Illustration (Photo: Pexels from Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Sesmenpora) Gatot S. Dewa Broto said that his party would create an example of a sports league game with the COVID-19 protocol. Later, this example can be applied by sports league organizers.

Gatot said, the plan to organize a sports league during the COVID-19 pandemic was not sufficiently based on regulations. However, there must be an implementation of a replicable event example.

"We will later cooperate with the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) and various sports institutions to create a role model for the sports league. So, later a good tournament competition must be like this (for example)," said Gatot in a discussion at Graha BNPB, East Jakarta, Wednesday, July 29.

Gatot understands that athletes, organizers, and people interested in various sports have longed for the existence of a sports league.

Because, since the COVID-19 pandemic entered Indonesia, various matches have been postponed. For example, Liga 1 and Liga 2 were postponed and will resume from September. Then, the National Sports Week (PON) which will take place this year was postponed to 2021.

Gatot said the government had no intention of obstructing the running of a sports league. However, sports activities have the potential to transmit COVID-19.

"Football has a high body contact. The next problem, there is a hustle and bustle about supporters. If there are no spectators at the stadium match, the fear is that outside will gather to wait for the athletes," said Gatot.

Until now, Kemenpora has invited several sports to hold matches again. However, there are a number of things that are required to be applied before competing.

"First, the athletes have to do the PCR test on the day before competing. Then, make the crowd arrangement. If the capacity of the spectators in the stadium is 76,000, we allow them to be filled at most 30 percent. Don't get crowded," said Gatot.