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Nusantara for 2036 Olympics: Jokowi
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An image of one possible plan for the new capital city Nusantara in East Kalimantan.
(Courtesy of/Public Works and Public Housing Ministry)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appears to have reignited his lofty ambitions of holding an international sporting tournament by building new state-of-the-art sports training facilities in the country’s new capital of Nusantara, in East Kalimantan, as part of the country’s bid to host the 2036 Olympics.
Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali said following a meeting with Jokowi and head of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Mochamad Iriawan at the State Palace on Wednesday that the President had called for new soccer training facilities to be built in Nusantara.
“The President has asked me and the PSSI to build soccer training facilities at Nusantara, the country’s new capital,” Zainudin said in a press statement, adding that the government would also be building facilities for other sports, including main and supporting facilities.
This, Zainudin said, would be part of the country’s preparations to launch a proposal looking to host the 2036 Olympics. “The proposal will have [Nusantara] as its location,” Zainudin added.
In response to Jokowi’s plans, head of Indonesia’s National Olympics Committee (NOC), Raja Sapta Oktohari said in a statement on Thursday that the committee “will do all it can” to make Indonesia the first ASEAN country to hold the Olympics.
“We welcome the President’s directive to participate in the bidding for the 2036 Olympics, with the [country's proposed] venue being at the new capital,” Raja said, adding that the country had established continuous dialogue with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission – a division within the IOC responsible for picking host countries.
“With the new capital set to be the venue, we are optimistic that [Indonesia can win the bid for the 2036 Olympics], particularly since one of the points assessed [by the IOC] is the venue’s master plan, as well as its sustainability and legacy,” Raja added.
