After The Papua PON, The Rowing Arena Is Expected Not To Be Abandoned And Can Become A Tourist Destination

Papua PON Rowing Arena (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - General Chairperson of the Indonesian Rowing Sports Association (PB PODSI) Basuki Hadimuljono said the Papuan provincial government is responsible for seriously managing Papua's PON facilities, including the rowing arena in Youtefa Bay, Jayapura so that it does not become neglected after the four-year national multi-event ends.

According to Basuki, who also serves as Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), the provincial government can make the rowing arena not only a training ground for Papuan athletes, but also a tourist destination.

"I'll tell the Papua provincial administrator (paddle)… This can be an infrastructure to activate rowing… I told Mr. Jansen (Chairman of PODSI Papua) so that this doesn't go unnoticed, there must be a tourism value," said Basuki while reviewing the rowing arena in Jayapura. , Friday, reported by Antara.

Basuki reminded him not to let the rowing arena in Youtefa Bay suffer the same fate as the Rowing and Canoeing Regatta Course at the Jakabaring Sport Center, Palembang which was neglected after the 2018 Asian Games.

In fact, the Ministry of PUPR has spent Rp 136 billion in APBN funds for the construction and renovation of the arena. The rowing arena in Jakabaring has even received recognition from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) as the largest and best in the world.

However, after the 2018 Asian Games, the arena was abandoned, especially the equipment room and spectator stands.

“We have to learn from Jakabaring. We have to do more and more sporting activities. This could be the place for all the water sports. Water jetskis can also (here)," said Basuki.

The construction of the rowing arena for the Papua PON was carried out by the contractor PT Nindya Karya (Persero) using a state budget of IDR 17 billion with an implementation period of February 2020 to August 2021.

The infrastructure support for the rowing arena begins with the construction of a coastal guard in the form of reclamation of an area of 10,000 m3 by the Papua River Basin Center (BWS), the Directorate General of Water Resources. Furthermore, in the reclamation area, a boat shed with an area of 1,750 m2, a modular pontoon of 521 m2, two gangways, and a 14.4 meter high finishing tower were built.

The arena has a track length of 2,200 meters with a width of 81 meters (9 tracks) and is equipped with one start tower unit, five monitoring tower units, eight distance markers and anchoring stakes, and two obstacle canoe slalom units.