Lack of funds may see Indonesia sending only a nominal contingent to the SEA Games in Thailand this December.
Newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir has confirmed that the Ministry has only a budget of Rp 10 billion (USD 600,000) available to send athletes to the Games.
The revelation was made following his meeting with the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) earlier today
There were already fears of budget constraints previously, with the deputy minister Taufik HIdayat urging associations just a couple days ago, to review their selections.
While Indonesia had wanted to enter approximately 600 athletes for the SEA Games, the number may now be whittled down to only 120.
Indonesia entered 599 athletes – 379 men and 220 women, at the SEA Games two years ago in Phnom Penh and finished third overall with 87 gold medals.
With a possible drastic reduction of number of athletes, their chances of winning that many gold medals look highly unlikely.
The Ministry is expected to engage the Finance Ministry for additional government fundings. It is estimated that a budget of between Rp 45-60 billion (USD 2.7 – 3-6 million) would be needed to send a full strength contingent to Thailand.
The 2025 SEA Games will take place from 9-20 December 2025 in three major cities – Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla.
