Prabowo: Sports are National Investments Beyond Monetary Value

President Prabowo Subianto views sports not just as a pursuit for medals, but as a crucial 'national investment' for cultivating the physical strength, character, discipline, health, and national spirit of the Indonesian people. Prabowo articulated this perspective during the send-off ceremony for the Indonesian athletes participating in the 2026 Asian Games, held at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 9. "Sport is very important in the life of a nation and a state. Because a successful nation, a strong nation, is a nation where the people are strong," Prabowo stated. According to the President, a nation's strength is also determined by the physical condition, skills, and spirit of its populace. Prabowo emphasized that the benefits of sports cannot be solely measured by economic metrics. "Sports is a national investment, an investment to build the character of the nation, an investment that cannot be calculated with economic values," he said. He also highlighted the advantages of exercise for health, remarking, "Sports are a health investment that will certainly produce a generation that is strong for the struggle of the Indonesian nation in the future." Consequently, Prabowo urged that sports training be conducted consistently and sustainably.