JAKARTA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has completed the renovation of 17 stadiums to meet FIFA standards and aims to double this number within two to three years, according to President Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo inaugurated all 17 stadiums at the Gelora Delta Sidoarjo Stadium in East Java province on Monday afternoon. During the inauguration, he said that these international-standard sports facilities would help improve the quality of football in the country.
Prabowo noted that the stadiums meet international standards and have been inspected by FIFA.
"I would like to thank all parties who have worked hard so that today we can inaugurate all 17 international-standard stadiums, which have been inspected by FIFA and declared compliant with the requirements," Prabowo said.
The president stated that the government plans to increase the number of FIFA-standard stadiums in various regencies as part of efforts to enhance football quality nationwide.
"In the next two or three years, we will build maybe 17 or even 20 more stadiums. Every regency must have good stadiums. That is our target, we will achieve it," he said.
During the inauguration, Erick Thohir, chairman of the Indonesian Football Association, said that the stadium renovations reflect the government's commitment to advancing the country's football standards, adding that the goal is to establish a strong football ecosystem that aligns with the FIFA regulations.
Erick added that this support is a crucial asset for the national football team as it strives to qualify for the World Cup. ■
