Prabowo and Thohir Discuss Indonesia’s Hosting Potential with IOC President
Paris, The Gulf Observer: President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Chair of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir held a significant meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach in France. The discussions centered on Indonesia’s potential to host major international sporting events, including the Olympics.
Erick Thohir shared the details of the meeting on his Instagram account, noting the emphasis on Indonesia’s capability and enthusiasm for hosting international events. “We conveyed Indonesia’s potential to host international sporting events in the future, including the Olympics,” Thohir wrote on Sunday.
Thohir highlighted President-elect Prabowo’s deep interest in sports and his commitment to supporting Indonesia in hosting prestigious global events. “Indonesia has been trusted to host various international sporting events, including the 2023 U-17 Football World Cup, the 2023 Basketball World Championship, and the 2018 Asian Games,” he remarked.
In addition to their meeting with the IOC President, Thohir accompanied Prabowo in a discussion with the President of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Gianni Infantino. They explored extensive football cooperation between Indonesia and FIFA.
On FIFA’s official website, Infantino expressed satisfaction with FIFA’s strong working relationship with Indonesia and PSSI. He acknowledged the promising progress made by Indonesia in recent years and the growing popularity of football among the youth. Infantino also praised Indonesia’s warm welcome and successful hosting of the U-17 World Cup, the first FIFA tournament held in the country.
During the opening of the 2023 U-17 World Cup, Infantino and Thohir inaugurated FIFA’s new regional office in Jakarta and signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement identified stadium safety and security as key pillars to support the transformation of Indonesian football. As part of this initiative, a FIFA team visited eight stadiums across four provinces in Indonesia between May 20-25, 2024.
Moreover, the FIFA Forward Programme is funding the construction of PSSI’s first National Training Centre in Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara. The National Training Centre will feature natural and synthetic grass fields, dormitories, and changing rooms.
This series of meetings and agreements underscores Indonesia’s commitment to elevating its status in the international sports arena and fostering a robust sports infrastructure for future generations.
