The Jakarta Youth and Sports Agency (Dispora) continues to promote the development of roller skating and skateboarding sports as part of efforts to strengthen urban sports achievements.

Jakarta Dispora Head, Andri Yansyah said, the roller skating sport has long been known as Jakarta's 'golden barn' at the National Sports Week (PON), consistently winning more than 10 medals at each event.

Therefore, Governor Pramono Anung urged that the current skateboarding facilities must be maintained and optimized for various athlete training activities.

"The roller skating venue at Jakarta International Roller Track Arena (JIRTA), Sunter GOR, North Jakarta, is one of national standard, and only two in Indonesia, one of which is in Papua," he explained, Wednesday (11/19).

To maintain and improve the achievements of inline skaters, they will strengthen facilities and hold international events, such as the Jakarta Open International Rollerskate Speed Championship, which was attended by 1,300 participants.

"This event becomes an important momentum to increase experience and boost the confidence of inline skaters towards higher achievements," he explained.

For skateboarding, they are working with the Jakarta Parks and City Forest Agency to optimize several public spaces, including underpasses in Kalimalang area, to accommodate public interest in skateboarding and other urban sports.

"Despite there are currently several skateparks in public spaces, these facilities are still recreational and do not meet the specific standards for competitive sports," he explained.

He went on to say that the skateboard facilities at the Ragunan Student Sports Training Center (PPOP) are still not up to international standards. Hence, the Dispora plans to build more complete and integrated facilities in the Jakarta Garden City (JGC) area, Cakung, which will eventually become a training center for skateboard athletes at a professional level.

With the availability of skateboarding facilities and the construction of an international-class skateboard center, Jakarta is expected to become a driving force for urban sports in Indonesia.

"We want a comprehensive facility, not piecemeal. We'll review everything so that Jakarta has an internationally standard skateboarding training center that can produce accomplished athletes," he stated.