Indonesia’s Sports Minister Presents Budget and Policy Plans to Parliament

Indonesia’s sports ministry is targeting at least four gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games while seeking to strengthen the country’s long-term athlete development system.

Sports Minister Erick Thohir presented the target during a working meeting with Commission X of the House of Representatives in Jakarta. He said the ministry is aligning its programs with national priorities through three pillars: youth development, sports participation and elite sporting achievement.

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We want to improve the quality of youth development, build inclusive sports participation, strengthen the sports industry in line with the National Sports Grand Design, and develop sports through a tiered and sustainable system.

The ministry plans to support the Asian Games goal through national training programs and preparations in priority sports. Thohir also cited a national sports academy, athlete scholarships and the Cibubur sport science program. The ministry intends to reinforce long-term development for 20 Olympic priority sports and one world-stage sport, alongside a national talent-management system.

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The most important thing is how we uphold our responsibility in using the funds, so people can feel the programs. We should be transparent and accountable.

Youth programs are also being planned ahead of the centenary of Youth Pledge Day in 2028. The initiatives include the Wirasena Youth Camp, Youth Summit, Wirasena Youth Career Hub and the International Youth Exchange program.

On finances, Thohir reported a proposed 2027 budget ceiling of 4.019 trillion rupiah. He stressed that public funds should be used transparently and accountably so people can feel the effects of the programs. Commission X Deputy Chair Kurniasih Mufidayati said the commission agreed with the budget, which will proceed through the budget-discussion process.

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Commission X emphasizes that the ministry should use the views and input from Commission X members, submitted in the brief report, as a reference when preparing policies, programs and activities for the 2027 budget year.