Jakarta. Indonesia plans to build the largest and most advanced sports training center in Southeast Asia as part of a long-term strategy to elevate national athletic performance on the global stage, Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said on Sunday.

Erick confirmed that the plan has been approved by President Prabowo Subianto and has been included in the government’s list of strategic national programs.

The proposed training complex will be designed based on sport science, serving as a centralized and integrated hub for long-term athlete development equipped with modern facilities.

“I, together with all Indonesians who wish to see our athletes succeed globally, express our appreciation to the President for giving special attention to sports by including the development of this facility in the government’s strategic program to be accelerated in the near future,” Erick said in Jakarta.

He added that the scale of the project reflects the government’s ambition to turn Indonesia into a dominant force in international sports.

“This shows the President is serious about making Indonesia a strong and respected contender in global sports. The training center we are planning will be the best in Southeast Asia,” Erick said, without providing further details.

To realize the project, Erick said the ministry will collaborate with other government bodies.

“We must unite to design and implement this center so that long-term, tiered athlete development is carried out consistently and results in achievements. This is a dream we all share,” he said.

The center will focus on sports with high medal prospects and strong development ecosystems, including swimming, badminton, weightlifting, sport climbing, archery, gymnastics, and athletics.

The initiative is aimed at delivering strong national results in major upcoming events, including the 2026 Asian Games, the 2027 Southeast Asian Games, and the 2028 Olympic Games. According to Erick, the selection of priority sports is based on in-depth studies of medal potential, historical international performance, the readiness of domestic development systems, and long-term prospects for strengthening Indonesia’s position in global competitions.