VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo asked Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali to redesign the athlete coaching system on a large scale from the regions to the center in the momentum of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was said by President Joko Widodo in his remarks at the highlight of the National Sports Day XXXVII 2020, via a video conference from Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java on Wednesday night (9/9). The President said the Covid-19 pandemic had stopped or delayed various sports competitions, both national and international. However, the Covid-19 pandemic must be an opportunity to reorganize the national sports ecosystem. One of the points that the President emphasized was the athlete training system. He asked Minister Zainudin Amali to redesign the management of athlete development that is well synergized from the regions to the center, from general education institutions to sports education institutions. IN addition, President Joko Widodo also asked him to develop an information system and big data analytics that could detect qualified athlete candidates.

Borobudur Marathon 2020 will still be held amid the Covid-19 pandemic virtually. In this Borobudur Marathon event, national and international runners always participate as participants reaching up to tens of thousands. However, amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the committee still holds the 2020 Borobudur Marathon in a different way. National and international elite runners invited by the committee on the recommendation of the Indonesian Athletics Association will run directly with a total of 30-40 people along with other invitees. Meanwhile, the general participants ran virtually.

Borobudur Marathon 2020 will be held on Sunday 15 September. Even though the general participants participate virtually, the categories contested included 10K, half marathon, full marathon, and friendship run.

Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, in a virtual Borobudur Marathon 2020 press conference, Tuesday (Sept 8) said that the Borobudur Marathon was not initially going to be held, but after discussions with various parties, it is finally held. However, the runners are specially invited and the public participate in a virtual way. This is because since the Covid-19 pandemic in March, all events have been re-evaluated, including the Borobudur Marathon.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI), Tigor Tanjung said that PASI as the main athletic sport assesses that there are several positive things from the Borobudur Marathon activity despite being surrounded by a pandemic. First, by holding the 2020 Borobudur Marathon anyway keeps the echoes of athletic sports competitions alive. Then the second, through the Borobudur Marathon, it is an opportunity for national athletes or regional elites to try their abilities to compete. This is because now there is no competition amid the pandemic.

A total of 17,000 participants are targeted to take part in a virtual running event entitled Milo Indonesia Virtual Run which is held at the same time to celebrate the 2020 National Sports Day. The race is divided into two categories, namely 10 kilometers (10K) and Family Run 3 kilometers (3K). Registration has been open since September 1 and will be closed on September 18, 2020. While the running period is September 9-20, 2020. Until now, there are around 4,000 participants who have registered in the Milo Indonesia Virtual Run. Mirna Tri Handayani, person in charge of competition activities at a virtual press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday said the virtual runners came from various regions in Indonesia. This event was attended by people all over Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke. The organizers hope that through this event, all Indonesian people can continue to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Meanwhile, Deputy III of the Sports Culture of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Raden Isnanta, on the same occasion said that virtual running competitions can not only be enjoyed by people who are well in exercising, but instead provide opportunities for people to start exercising.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali said that sport tourism should be Indonesia's main strength in attracting tourists and at the same time. increasing the country's foreign exchange. In a webinar in Jakarta on Tuesday (8/9), he stated that the 37th national sports day is a momentum to encourage sport tourism. He also remarked that iif the tour packages are packaged properly and are informed overseas, the selling value will be a lot. He acknowledged that Indonesia was a little late in developing sport tourism, even though Indonesia has diverse and abundant natural resources. Indonesia is one of the countries with the longest coastline in the world with a length of 54,716 kilometers. Likewise, with mountains and a supportive climate that should make Indonesia have strength in developing sport tourism. Moreover, Indonesia has many potential sports tourism objects that need to be developed.