VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Members of the Barongsai Sports Federation's executive board (PB FOBI) and Central KONI at the Gedung Kaca FOBI Secretariat Office in Central Jakarta on Friday (January 28, 2022). (ANTARA/HO-KONI Pusat/FR) - 

The Central National Sports Committee (KONI) has officially inaugurated the secretariat office of the Indonesian Barongsai Sports Federation's executive board (PB FOBI) in KH. Mansyur Kav 129–130, Karet Tengsin, Central Jakarta.

While Central KONI chairman Marciano Norman was unable to directly attend the inauguration event on Friday, a special speech from him was read by an official at the event.

In an official statement released on Saturday, Norman thanked all barongsai, Indonesian traditional lion dance, enthusiasts within PB FOBI for their commitment, spirit, sacrifice, and sincerity in guiding the sport.

"As a result of their hard work, they finally have their own headquarters named Gedung Kaca FOBI Secretariat Office," he said.

"Seeing PB FOBI organizers' extraordinary spirit, I am optimistic that the Indonesian people will love the barongsai sports more," he remarked.

"Let us hope that with this office, PB FOBI will productively yield successful athletes and also programs that could be linked with sports tourism," he added.

In addition to Central KONI members, the event was also attended by figures such as PB FOBI chairman Edy Kusuma, Chinese figure Ted Siong, advisory board member Tono Suratman, and advisor Ronald Syarif.

Kusuma also thanked Central KONI and the provincial KONI for their support of barongsai sport which, to this day, has 25 provincial organizers across Indonesia.

In fact, several achievements have been made at the international level by Indonesian barongsai athletes, according to Kusuma.

He further said that the guidance program will continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Despite the pandemic, FOBI will never stop its activities in all of Indonesia," he stressed.

On a separate occasion, Norman had said that the barongsai has made a large contribution in driving the nation's sports tourism//ANT