Ganjar Pranowo Makes Borobudur Marathon Momentum Triggers Economic Awakening

JAKARTA - Borobudur Marathon 2022 powered by Bank Jateng is officially launched. The annual event will be held on 12-13 November 2022 with a target of 5,000 participants.

Borobudur Marathon is expected to be a trigger for economic revival, tourism, and as a space for the regeneration of long-distance athletes in Central Java and Indonesia.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said the Borobudur Marathon was an ongoing event, when almost all marathon events in the world fell asleep due to the pandemic. Of course with restrictions on the number of participants and various adjustments.

"Today the situation feels much better. Now we are launching and hopefully later the participants who used to want to participate and haven't been able to, yes today the quantity will increase. Hopefully the target of 5,000 (participants) can be achieved," said Ganjar after the launch of the 2022 Borobudur Marathon at Bank Jateng's head office, quoted from a written statement, Monday, May 23.

This number, according to Ganjar, could still increase by monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Central Java. Because the enthusiasm of the community and runners is very high with the Borobudur Marathon event.

"If later it can be adjusted to 10 thousand (participants) I think it's good, but we will first see the record of the increase in Covid cases. Otherwise we will open. So, today we are launching. My guess is that after it is opened, it will be sold out immediately, maybe a few hours or a few days, "explained Ganjar.

Borobudur Marathon is a regeneration room for long-distance runners. For example, the gold medal winner for Indonesia at the Vietnam Sea Games this year is the winner of the Borobudur Marathon in 2021.

“So we give space to athletes to be able to run and compete with international class. It could be an opportunity to test yourself. Hopefully later there will be many international (runners)," said Ganjar.

Sport tourism in the Borobudur Marathon is also a space for tourist areas to develop their tourism. This is also supported by the economic sector by cooperating with MSMEs around Borobudur.

"Our sport tourism is boosted. We also involve community participation, including MSMEs. We hope that this will trigger our revival in terms of the economy, so that people will come, the economy will develop, and this will be part of our healing,” said Ganjar.