East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena said his government is preparing PON 2028 arenas close to tourist locations to add to the excitement of Indonesia's largest multi-sport event.
"The 2028 PON in NTT will be held in around 14 cities/regencies out of 22 existing level II regions. We will move the locations closer to tourist attractions," said Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena in a press conference following a consolidation meeting on the 2025 PON with Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir.
East Nusa Tenggara will host the 2028 National Games alongside West Nusa Tenggara as supporting provinces. To prepare for the event, Melkiades explained that his government is preparing competition venues close to tourist attractions.
That way, he said, the community or supporters as well as the athletes and officials who come will not only compete but also be able to enjoy the exotic tourism of NTT, besides the already famous Labuan Bajo.
Melkiades further expressed gratitude for receiving the decree regarding the PON from the Minister of Youth and Sports. He added that the letter had been long awaited to ensure technical preparations on the ground.
Moreover, the letter was issued just as his office was in the midst of budget discussions. "For us in the region with the current fiscal situation, this decree has a huge impact because it allows us to discuss it with the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) more effectively," he said.
Melkiades said that currently, his government has allocated a budget of Rp250 billion for the implementation of the PON, which will be prepared in stages until 2028.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, who had provided guidance to him and the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) so that the implementation of the PON would be in accordance with the directions of President Prabowo Subianto.
"His message to both of us was to make this activity truly efficient," he said.
On the other hand, Melkiades continued, discussions on the division of sports branches between NTB and NTT have also been divided as fairly as possible and the remainder will be supported by the DKI Government.
Melkiades hopes that the upcoming PON will meet the aspects of successful achievements, especially for the 21 priority sports branches of the National Sports Grand Design , as well as successful implementation and administration.
"We also hope this activity will bring success to tourism and the economy of NTT and NTB," he said.
Also present at the press conference were Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir and his Deputy Taufik Hidayat, Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, Governor of DKI Jakarta Pramono Anung, and Deputy Chairman of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives Lalu Hadrian Irfani.
