Sunday, 11 October 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - A dispute over the organisation of Medan's delegation for the 12th North Sumatra Provincial Sports Week (Porprovsu) 2026 has prompted 28 sports associations in the city to take a united stand. The associations' chairpersons have signed a petition requesting a meeting with Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas to seek clarity on the division of duties and responsibilities between the Medan Youth and Sports Office (Dispora) and the Medan branch of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI).
The associations believe KONI Medan should continue to coordinate the departure and deployment of the city's delegation to the provincial sporting event. They are concerned that changes to the arrangements could disrupt existing athlete development programmes run by KONI in collaboration with the respective sports associations.
Through the proposed meeting, the representatives hope to present their concerns directly to Rico and secure a clear decision on each institution's role in preparing Medan's delegation for the 12th Porprovsu in 2026. The issue is particularly significant because Medan is once again aiming to finish as overall champion.
Josef Yus, chairman of the Medan branch of the Indonesian Judo Association (Persatuan Judo Seluruh Indonesia, PJSI), said the dispute was not simply about arrangements for transporting athletes to the competition. It also concerned the continuity of elite sports development and the efficiency of the organisational work needed to prepare athletes for various competitions.
Josef said Dispora should provide comprehensive support for sports development, including programmes implemented by KONI in partnership with the sports associations to improve athletic performance. An unclear division of responsibilities, he warned, could hamper the delivery of these programmes.
"I get the impression that Dispora provides insufficient support for sports development or does not understand the responsibilities involved. Those in charge fail to take into account how many sports associations KONI oversees in its efforts to advance sport in Medan," Josef said.
He stressed that the city administration needed to resolve the dispute promptly to prevent any disruption to the athletes' preparations. Each institution, he said, must carry out its duties in accordance with its functions and responsibilities so that development programmes can continue uninterrupted in the run-up to the 12th Porprovsu in 2026.
Josef also warned that the disagreement between Dispora and KONI could create a negative impression of Mayor Rico's leadership. In his view, Rico had so far demonstrated considerable commitment to the development of sport in Medan. He therefore hoped that the actions of the city's agencies would reflect the mayor's stated commitment to sports development and improved athletic performance.
"The way this is being handled not only obstructs sports development efforts and undermines the interests of sport in Medan. It could also give the impression that Mayor Rico does not support the development of sport. That would be disastrous, considering that the mayor has in fact shown strong support for sport in Medan," he said.
Josef called on Rico to bring representatives of the sports associations and KONI Medan together as soon as possible to find a solution. A clear division of responsibilities, he said, would prevent the two institutions from duplicating or encroaching on each other's duties while ensuring that preparations for the delegation proceed as planned.
In their request for a meeting with the mayor, submitted through KONI Medan, the sports associations outlined three points agreed at a joint meeting as the basis for their position.
First, all associations participating in the Porprovsu expressed their willingness to support Medan's delegation and contribute to its success. They also pledged to defend the city's overall championship title at the 12th Porprovsu in 2026.
Second, all the associations called for KONI Medan to retain responsibility for coordinating the deployment of the city's delegation. They cited Law No. 11 of 2022 on Sport, Law No. 23 of 2014 on Regional Government, and Minister of Youth and Sports Regulation No. 7 of 2025, which revoked Regulation No. 14 of 2024 concerning governance standards for elite sports organisations.
Third, the associations said they opposed transferring responsibility for the Porprovsu delegation to other bodies outside the arrangements they were seeking. Their position reflects a desire to ensure that the delegation continues to be organised under a division of responsibilities that, in their view, supports the needs of elite sports development.
Josef said KONI's ability to develop elite sport could be further restricted if other agencies took over coordination without clearly defining KONI's role. He therefore urged the city administration to clarify the support available, the responsibilities of each institution and the budget allocated to athlete development.
"Developing elite sport is the responsibility of KONI Medan. The relevant duties and the funds allocated for them should therefore be returned to KONI in full. If other agencies take over everything, KONI will eventually have nothing left to do," he said.
Josef emphasised that Dispora and KONI should work together in the interests of sport in Medan. Both institutions have responsibilities that need to be coordinated to ensure the best possible support for athletes, competition preparations and the organisation of the city's delegation.
"Each institution should return to its own area of responsibility. Dispora is responsible for promoting school sports, while KONI focuses on elite sport. Neither side should encroach on the other's responsibilities, because ultimately this could damage the mayor's standing," he said.
He hoped the meeting with the mayor would lead to a decision that clearly defined each institution's responsibilities and prevented the dispute from dragging on. The sports associations, he said, wanted all parties to concentrate on achieving their sporting goals rather than becoming caught up in organisational disagreements.
"We want to meet the mayor and ask that Dispora return to its own duties and responsibilities. The institutions should not obstruct one another but should work together to support sports development in Medan," he said.
Josef also indicated that further action could follow if the associations received no response to their concerns. One option, he said, would be to follow the example of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Persatuan Tinju Amatir Indonesia, Pertina), which he claimed had opted to withdraw in a similar situation. However, he stressed that the associations would wait to see how events unfolded before deciding on their next move.
"We will monitor the situation. We may take the same approach as Pertina and withdraw if our demands are not met," he said.
The dispute highlights the need for the Medan city administration to resolve institutional coordination issues ahead of the 12th Porprovsu in 2026. Clearly defined responsibilities are essential to protect athletes' preparations, ensure that funding and development programmes have clear objectives, and enable Dispora and KONI to fulfil their respective roles.
Resolving the matter through dialogue could also strengthen sports associations' confidence in the regional sports administration. Defending Medan's overall championship title will depend not only on athletes' performances during competition but also on effective organisational planning and cooperation among all parties responsible for the city's delegation. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Saifan Anwar Lubis | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
