Jakarta. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the Cibubur Youth Elite Sport Center (CYESC) in East Jakarta on Tuesday to assess its progress. The center aims to enhance preparations for athletes competing in the 2028 Olympics.

With a budget of Rp 249 billion ($16 million), the facility is anticipated to be completed and inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto in December 2024.

“This is a very strategic project, crucial for improving future athletic performance. I saw that the facilities are already very comprehensive,” Gibran said.

Designed to meet international standards, the sports center will serve as the main training hub for athletes.

“There are no longer any excuses for not achieving results. The training facilities are sufficient. Now we just need to see the performance align with international standards,” Gibran added.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Taufik Hidayat emphasized the importance of a long-term focus on athlete development to meet targets, including winning more gold medals in international competitions.

Indonesia clinched 2 gold medals and 1 bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Speed climber Veddriq Leonardo and weightlifter Rizki Juniansyah were the Indonesian gold medalists this year. Veddriq also became the first Indonesian non-badminton Olympic gold medalist. Women’s singles badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung won a bronze medal.

In addition to inspecting the Cibubur Youth Elite Sport Center, Gibran also reviewed the construction of the Phase 1B Light Rail Transit (LRT) route from Velodrome to Manggarai, which spans 6.4 kilometers. He was accompanied by Jakarta's Acting Governor Teguh Setyabudi and East Jakarta Mayor Muhammad Anwar during this visit.