JABAR EKSPRES – General Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Athletics Association (PB PASI) who is also the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, inaugurated the new athletic training center in Banjarsari Village, Pangalengan District, Bandung Regency, Thursday (10 /10/2024).

Present at the event were the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo, the Acting (Pj) Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin, and the West Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Pol Akhmad Wiyagus as well as several related stakeholders.

This facility was built on 10 hectares of land in collaboration with BUMN and various other parties, and is intended as a training facility for national athletes with the aim of producing world-class athletes.

According to Luhut, the establishment of this athletic facility has been a dream of PB PASI for decades, because they often use the Madya Stadium as a training ground.

“Yes, I think this is PB Pasi's dream for decades. So, we have been depending on training at the Madya Stadium. "Moreover, the air pollution is very bad there," he said when met. According to him, this development plan was carried out three years ago and was even approved by President Jokowi.

"And the President agrees, President Jokowi. We will do this, we got 10 hectares of this land from BUMN too," he said. Luhut added that the construction of this training was carried out at an international standard, from stadiums to training grounds.

“I think the standards are international standards. There are 90 people from national housing for rooms for athletes. The gym is also good, there is hot water, the kitchen is also very good. "There is also a place to wash clothes, use coins, the water is also good," he said.

This training center is also planned as a competition venue which can function as a "training center" for national athletes. According to Luhut, quality training facilities and housing are the keys to developing athletes who are able to excel.

“Good athletes are born from good training and facilities too. The hostel must have hot water, good food, a good place to rest. We must appreciate those who excel and give bonuses. "Don't let our athletes die of cold," stressed Luhut.

Luhut also considers that Pangalengan is an ideal location for athletics because it has fresh air and a supportive atmosphere, different from big cities which are full of activity. He called West Java a repository for potential athletes and hoped that this training center would become the birthplace of world-class athletes. "West Java is a warehouse for athletes, there is no reason we cannot create world-class athletes," he said.

Based on field observations, the training center facilities in Pangalengan are projected to be able to accommodate up to 100 athletes and are equipped with facilities and infrastructure for all athletics events such as an 8 track running track, 100 meter extra sprint track, long and triple jump, javelin throw.

Apart from that, there are also steeplech tracks, discus throw, hammer throw, pole vault, shot put, high jump, hill run facilities and spectator stands. There are even several other supporting facilities also prepared, such as a gym, athlete changing rooms, classrooms, dormitory buildings and large vehicle parking.

(SOURCE)