Jakarta - The XX National Sports Week (PON), sports party in 2021 is an important momentum to make Papua a sports province.

However, regulations related to Papua as a sports province are still being discussed across ministries and related institutions in Jakarta.

Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia, Dito Ariotedjo, said provincial sports regulations were still being discussed with the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.

“It means that not only regulations regarding Papua as a sports province, but we and the Minister of Home Affairs are also discussing the use of regional budget for athlete development at the provincial and district/city levels," said Minister Dito on the sidelines of the National Gathering of Sports Stakeholders and PWI Administrators throughout Indonesia "Towards the World Stage" at the Press Council Hall, last weekend.

He said the Minister of Youth and Sports and Minister of Home Affairs are working on rules specifically allocating the state budget and regional budget for sports coaching.

"While still being discussed at the Ministry of Home Affairs, not only Papua as a sports province but the regional budget in districts/cities can be used for sports financing in the future," he said.

Previously, the Papua Government launched Papua as a sports province at the Sultan Hotel Jakarta, on May 20, 2022.

The inauguration was marked by the beating of Tifa jointly by the Acting Head of the Papua Sports and Youth Office, Deputy IV of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Expert Staff of the Minister of National Development Planning for Superior Products and Infrastructure, Deputy Chairman of Commission V of the DPRP, Deputy Secretary General of KONI and the Cendrawasih University Team, at the Strategic Discussion of Papua Collaboration Towards a Sports Province. ***