JAYAPURA – The Papua Provincial Government has called on all members of the sports community to strengthen athlete development as part of preparations for the 22nd National Sports Week XXII, in 2028 in West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara.

This was conveyed by Papua Governor Matius D. Fakhiri when opening the 2026 Papua Provincial Sports Conference of the Indonesian National Sports Committee in Jayapura City on Friday, June 5, 2026.

According to Fakhiri, Papua needs to use the conference as a momentum to formulate more focused athlete development measures in preparation for some national sporting agendas in the coming years.

"We must prepare ourselves to face the 2026 Martial Arts of National Sports Week, the 2027 National Sports Week qualifying rounds, and the 2028 National Sports Week," he said.

He stated that sports play an important role in the development of Papua's human resources, as they not only produce achievements but also shape character, discipline, and a spirit of togetherness.

Therefore, athlete development must be carried out continuously with the support of all sports stakeholders in Papua.

The Papua Provincial Government, he continued, is committed to providing support in accordance with the region's capacity so that athlete development programs can run optimally.

"We want Papua's sporting achievements to continue to grow and to compete again at the national level," he said.

In addition to discussing the direction of sports development, the Papua Provincial Sports of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) also serves as a forum to evaluate work programs and formulate the organization's strategic steps for the coming period.

The Papua Provincial Government hopes that the results of the conference will serve as a basis for strengthening sports development and producing achievements that will make Papua proud at various national events. ***