Indonesia is targeting to enter the top five in world rankings at the Olympics and Paralympics in 2044, according to Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali.

“This target is in accordance with Presidential Regulation Number 86 of 2021 on the National Sports Grand Design (DBON),” Amali stated at the inauguration of a sports facility at the University of Indonesia’s (UI’s) campus here, Wednesday.

Amali admitted to initially thinking that it was impossible for Indonesia to target the world’s top five ranking.

“Turns out that the target is based on scientific studies with academics and sports practitioners. Professors have made an estimation,” Amali noted.

The minister believes this target can be achieved if Indonesia focuses on sports that are physically suitable for Indonesians and formulates sports that rely on technique and accuracy.

To this end, the country’s 14 flagship sports have been included in the DBON, such as badminton, weightlifting, archery, shooting, wushu, karate, taekwondo, cycling, athletics, swimming, artistic gymnastics, and rowing.

In response to this, Chancellor of the University of Indonesia (UI) Prof. Ari Kuncoro expressed the university’s readiness to help compile big data analysis and sport management studies in measuring the economic contribution of the multiplier effect of sports activities in the country, such as the implementation of the football league, National Sports Week (PON), and other sports activities.

“This research can be conducted in a multidisciplinary manner by researchers from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Faculty of Computer Science (Fasilkom), Faculty of Engineering (FT), and other faculties,” he remarked.

In the academic field, UI will encourage Indonesian athletes with international achievements to be accepted as students in the university and receive special scholarships.

Source: Antara News