A total of 200 participants from 29 regions in Indonesia were trained to become disability sports activists through the "Berdaya" Training of Trainers program for Disability Sports Activists, run by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with NPC Indonesia.
In an official statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports quoted in Jakarta, Monday, the program was opened by the Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir at the Indonesian Paralympic Training Center, Karanganyar, Central Java.
The Minister of Youth and Sports said that the program was one of the flagship programs of the ministry he led, the result of a joint idea with the Indonesian NPC.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with the Indonesian NPC, experts, and the Chef de Mission (CdM) of the Asian Para Games, agreed that in order to produce more disabled athletes, the presence of competent coaches is necessary.
The Minister of Youth and Sports stated that the program will produce competent and certified coaches, mentors, and advocates for disability sports. Thus, the program is expected to further strengthen the disability sports ecosystem in Indonesia and open up more opportunities for the development of potential athletes from various regions.
"It's impossible to develop athletes from the regions without being supervised by figures who understand how to produce athletes," he said.
According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, the existence of human resources who understand disability sports is a crucial factor in building a sustainable development system, from the regional to the national level.
He also believes that the program could be a first step in expanding access to sports for people with disabilities while simultaneously improving the quality of performance coaching.
The Minister of Youth and Sports stated that the program will continue to be promoted because it is in line with President Prabowo Subianto's vision and mission, Asta Cita, which places great emphasis on sports for people with disabilities, including during the athletes' retirement.
"Don't let these athletes only be remembered when they are successful, but when they are finished, only thanks will be given," he said.
Meanwhile, NPC Indonesia Chairman Senny Marbun appreciated the Ministry of Youth and Sports for initiating the program.
He considered the program an extraordinary step by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as it was the first of its kind to strengthen comprehensive development of disability sports.
"We can now see for ourselves and feel that he fxvz. has implemented fundamental changes in sports," he said.
The program is expected to be connected to NPC Indonesia programs and continue to be implemented sustainably so that the development of disabled athletes can run well and produce achievements at the international level.
