Indonesia’s Sports Ministry Reaffirms Support for Disabled Athletes Amid Deaf Team Fundraising Dispute

Indonesia’s Youth and Sports Ministry has reaffirmed its support for disabled athletes after public attention focused on deaf athletes reportedly raising funds themselves to attend an international competition.

Budi Ariyanto Muslim, acting deputy for sports culture at the ministry, said state funding from Indonesia’s national budget can only go to sports organizations officially recognized by the relevant international federation. For deaf sports, he said, the recognized international body is the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, or ICSD.

The ministry has recorded plans for Indonesian deaf athletes to compete at the 2026 Asia Pacific Deaf Multi-Sport Championship in Penang, Malaysia. The trip was planned and organized by the Indonesian Deaf Sports Association, known as Porturin. Budi said the government’s funding mechanism must instead follow the membership status of organizations recognized by the international federation. In Indonesia, he identified the Indonesian Association of the Deaf Athlete, or Patrin, as the organization recognized by the ICSD.

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Under the rules, only sports organizations that are members of a recognized international sports federation can receive government funding.

“Under the rules, only sports organizations that are members of a recognized international sports federation can receive government funding,” Budi said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Budi said he regretted the public narrative that deaf athletes had been forced to raise money independently. He called for the issue to be viewed in full so it would not create a misunderstanding about the government’s commitment to disability sports. The ministry plans to conduct an objective and comprehensive evaluation based on ICSD statutes and Indonesian law.

Surono, the ministry’s deputy for sports achievement, said the government and NPC Indonesia had consistently supported disability sports development. One example is the Paralympic Training Center Indonesia in Central Java, which is intended to improve athlete training. The ministry also provides financial support, although the supplied text ends before giving further details.

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Of course, we will conduct an objective and comprehensive evaluation guided by the ICSD statutes and the applicable laws and regulations.