Chairman of the executive board of the Indonesia Rowing Sports Association (PB PODSI), Basuki Hadimuljono, has urged the Papua provincial government to continue managing the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) venues after the games end.

For instance, the rowing venue built in Youtefa Bay, Jayapura city, he pointed out.

“I will tell the Papua provincial PODSI to use the venue to advance the region’s rowing activities,” he stated while reviewing the rowing venue in Jayapura City on Friday.

In addition, he suggested the regional government make the venue a tourist destination.

He reminded the stakeholders not to let the arena be abandoned like the Rowing and Canoeing Regatta Course at the Jakabaring Sport Center, Palembang city, South Sumatra after the 2018 Asian Games.

The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry spent Rp136 billion from the state budget for the construction and renovation of the arena, he pointed out.

The arena had even received international recognition from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) as the largest and best rowing venue in the world, he said.

However, after the 2018 Asian Games ended, the arena was abandoned, especially the equipment room and the spectator tribune, he added.

“We have to learn from the Jakabaring Arena. We have to do more sporting activities. This venue could be used for all water sports. Water jet ski exercise can also be done here,” the PODSI chairman emphasized.

Meanwhile, the construction of the XX Papua PON rowing venue was carried out by state-owned contractor PT Nindya Karya (Persero) using Rp17 billion from the state budget. The construction work started in February 2020 and ended in August 2021, he said.

The arena has a track length of 2,200 meters with a width of 81 meters divided into 9 tracks.

It is equipped with one starting tower unit, five monitoring tower units, eight distance markers and anchoring stakes, and two obstacle canoe slalom units, Hadimuljono added.

Source: Antara News