Jayapura, Jubi – Chairman of the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI), Marciano Norman, has called on Papua to re-establish itself as a leading producer of elite athletes capable of representing Indonesia with distinction on both national and international stages.

Speaking at the 2026 Papua Provincial Sports Congress (Musorprov) in Jayapura on Friday, Norman said Papua has a proud legacy in Indonesian sports, having produced numerous talented athletes over the years and successfully hosted the 2021 National Sports Week (PON XX) despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Papua holds a special place in the history of Indonesia’s sporting achievements. We continue to remember and take pride in how Papua successfully hosted PON XX in 2021, delivering a national sporting event of the highest standard,” he said.

Norman noted that the successful staging of the Games left Papua with a valuable legacy of international-standard sports facilities. He said these venues should now be fully utilized not only to improve athletic performance but also to stimulate the growth of sports tourism in the region.

He expressed hope that the provincial congress would serve as a unifying platform for Papua’s sporting community and help restore the province’s reputation as a cradle of national sporting talent.

“I hope this congress proceeds in a spirit of unity and mutual respect, while helping Papua regain its position as a center for developing athletes with the potential to become future world champions,” Norman said.

During his remarks, Norman also highlighted Indonesia’s upcoming major sporting events, including the 2028 National Sports Week in West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, as well as the 2032 edition, which is scheduled to be hosted by Banten and Lampung.

He said Papua is well positioned to play a strategic role in Indonesia’s sporting future, particularly through athletics, a discipline in which Papuan athletes have historically excelled.

“Papua has a strong tradition of producing outstanding track-and-field athletes. There is every reason to focus on restoring Papua’s dominance in athletics at both the national and international levels,” he said.

Beyond athlete development, Norman encouraged Papua to host more national and international sporting competitions, arguing that greater use of existing facilities would support the expansion of sports tourism and help strengthen the province’s emerging sports industry. (*)