The Indonesian and Russian governments have agreed to strengthen strategic cooperation in the field of sports through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Minister of Youth and Sports Ario Bimo Nandito Ariotedjo and the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Dr. Michael Degtyarev.
The signing was carried out on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) 2025 in Russia, and is part of the two countries' efforts to build an inclusive, innovative and sustainable sports ecosystem.
"Sports is a universal language that can be a bridge of friendship and global collaboration, especially in preparing a superior and competitive young generation," said Minister of Youth and Sports Dito in a written statement received.
The MoU covers five strategic areas of cooperation, namely the development of young athletes, exchange of knowledge and training, increasing international exposure for young athletes, strengthening sports diplomacy in international forums, and managing sustainable and inclusive training centers.
According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, the development of young athletes will be focused on priority sports such as badminton, athletics, volleyball, swimming, gymnastics, archery, martial arts and rock climbing.
Meanwhile, the exchange of sports personnel and training systems is expected to increase the capacity of sports institutions in both countries.
"Let us make this partnership an investment for the future, not only in winning medals, but also in shaping the nation's character, strengthening solidarity, and increasing global competitiveness," said Dito.
This collaboration is also expected to expand the diplomatic network of the two countries through sports, as well as introduce cultural values in international forums.
