KONI May Move Unfit PON 2028 Venues in East Nusa Tenggara

Kupang — The Central Executive Board of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI Pusat) said on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, that venues judged unsuitable for the 2028 National Sports Week in East Nusa Tenggara could be moved to other locations.

The assessment covers proposed venues in Kupang City and Kupang Regency. The decision will be based on the readiness and eligibility of facilities, with the evaluation also informing which sports and events can be held in the province.

Why it matters to visitors and foreign residents

For foreigners in East Nusa Tenggara, the announcement signals that competition activity may be distributed across several districts rather than concentrated in Kupang. Planned locations include Sumba Timur, Sumba Barat, Rote Ndao, Alor, Ngada, Sikka, Labuan Bajo and Ende. That could affect where sporting events, travel demand and related activity take place during the 2028 games.

Mayjen TNI (Purn.) Dr. Suwarno, KONI Pusat’s deputy chairman, said the committee would not retain a venue that failed the required standards. The final assessment is expected to determine whether each proposed location can host its assigned sport or event.

The wider plan is for East Nusa Tenggara to involve districts beyond Kupang. The province is preparing to use locations in Timor, Sumba, Flores, Alor and Rote, while the Central KONI team and technical delegates visit proposed venues and identify facilities requiring improvement.

The reports state that venue decisions and the sports and events assigned to each location remain subject to KONI Pusat’s evaluation. They do not provide a final list of approved venues.

Sources

• Bali Post — Indonesian news report
• RRI — public radio news report
• kupang.tribunnews.com