Sports and youth ministry to build hundreds of athletic facilities

Sports and Youth Minister Andi Mallarangeng says that his ministry plans to build hundreds of new athletic facilities, including soccer fields, starting this year.

“It won’t be all about soccer. For instance, in Maluku we will build boxing camps and in North Sumatra, chess facilities.” Andi said Saturday in Jakarta as quoted by kompas.com.

Andi said that he hoped the projects could help local administrations develop athletics.

“Indonesian families can also participate in developing sports. If parents see their child has talent, they have to support the children. These children will be Indonesia’s backbone in the SEA Games and Olympics in the coming years,” he said.