MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution is pushing to transform sports in North Sumatra into an independent, professional and competitive industry. The North Sumatra Provincial Government views better management and optimal use of sports facilities as an important step toward building a sustainable sports ecosystem while producing high-performing athletes.
Bobby made the statement while chairing a meeting with Acting North Sumatra Provincial Secretary Sulaiman Harahap and several heads of agencies within the North Sumatra Provincial Government. The meeting focused on strategic plans for managing and developing sports as an economic sector. It was held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in the meeting room on the 10th floor of the North Sumatra Governor's Office at 30 Jalan Diponegoro, Medan.
During the meeting, Bobby emphasized that sports have significant economic potential. People not only participate in sports themselves but also have a strong interest in watching various competitions and sporting events. According to him, this situation must be harnessed through careful planning so that sporting activities can generate revenue while strengthening athlete development.
"Many people want to watch, and many also want to participate in sports, especially athletes. But how can more people contribute to advancing sports? The way is to turn this sector into a source of revenue. For that, we need to transform it into an industry. And we have to start with ourselves, with the provincial government," Governor
Bobby Nasution said.
North Sumatra Has Key Sports Facilities
Bobby believes North Sumatra has strong foundations for this transformation, particularly after the province became one of the host regions for the 2024 National Sports Week (PON). The national sporting event left behind numerous sports facilities that can now be utilized to promote sporting activities while also stimulating the regional economy.
These facilities include the Main Stadium, Madya Stadium and various sports facilities at the Desa Sena Sports Center in Deli Serdang Regency. The North Sumatra Provincial Government also has several sports halls in the area of the North Sumatra Youth and Sports Office on Jalan William Iskandar in Medan, as well as other sports facilities in various regions.
Bobby stressed that adequate infrastructure alone would not be enough to create a
sports industry. The government must ensure that every asset is managed optimally, particularly in terms of maintenance, utilization, services and activity development.
"Of course, it is a good step if every event generates profits and revenue for the region. But we are talking about something bigger: We must ensure that sports in the future not only generate revenue but also become popular and attractive to the public. Therefore, we need a major plan, a Grand Design, that can be established on a long-term basis—not only for certain events, but also for community activities that can take place regularly every day, every week, every month and every year," Bobby explained.
He called on the government not to view sports facilities merely as venues for competitions or events held occasionally. Instead, a utilization plan must be developed that allows the public to use the facilities regularly. In this way, the facilities can operate continuously, generate revenue and increase public participation in sports.
Bobby also called for every sporting activity to contribute to improving the quality of athletes. Training sessions, competitions and tournaments should not be regarded by the government merely as events to fill the sporting calendar, but also as part of a systematic talent-development and high-performance sports program in North Sumatra.
LINKING REVENUE AND ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT: North Sumatra Governor
Bobby Nasution emphasizes the importance of a Grand Design that integrates revenue generation, athlete development and increased public interest in sports. (PHOTO: Doc. North Sumatra Communication and Informatics Office)
Grand Design to Bring Common Goals Together
According to Bobby, North Sumatra's large population provides substantial human-resource potential for sports development. This potential must be supported by a targeted development system so that the province's sporting achievements can improve at both the national and international levels.
"The goal of management, generating revenue, improving the quality of athletes and increasing public interest in sports must be pursued together. Therefore, we want this major plan to be prepared carefully, particularly in connection with the upcoming introduction of the Grand Design," Bobby said.
Bobby called on all stakeholders to carefully prepare the Grand Design, or comprehensive development plan, for the
sports industry. The plan must integrate business aspects, public services, athlete development, sports-community development and efforts to increase public interest in sports.
Through this concept, the government does not intend merely to generate revenue from the use of sports facilities. At the same time, it must ensure that commercial activities remain aligned with the public interest and that residents have sufficient opportunities to engage in sporting activities.
The plan is also part of the government's efforts to ensure the sustainability of sports facilities following
PON 2024. Without structured management, there is a risk that facilities built through significant investment will not be utilized optimally. Professional management, on the other hand, can ensure that these assets remain functional over the long term while generating economic and social benefits for the community.
SPORTS CENTER MANAGEMENT: Head of the North Sumatra Youth and Sports Office Mahfullah P Daulay explains the plan to manage the sports center through a UPTD under the BLUD model to improve services and optimize asset utilization. (PHOTO: Doc. North Sumatra Communication and Informatics Office)
BLUD as a Management Model
The Head of the North Sumatra Youth and Sports Office, Mahfullah P Daulay, said the provincial government is preparing to manage the sports center through a Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) under the Badan Layanan Umum Daerah (BLUD), or Regional Public Service Agency, model.
According to Mahfullah, this model could improve the flexibility and quality of sports facility management. An UPTD operating under the BLUD model would be able to make better use of assets, improve services and manage its own revenue, while continuing to prioritize its public-service function.
"Management under a BLUD can improve service quality, optimize the use of assets and allow revenue to be managed independently. This also includes service innovations, such as digitalization and business models that remain oriented toward public services," Mahfullah explained.
According to Mahfullah, managing the sports center through a BLUD would also give the government opportunities to develop various service innovations. Digitalization of sports facility management, business-model development and improvements in service quality are among the areas that could be further developed to make sports facilities more productive.
He added that the government could use revenue generated from managing the sports center through the BLUD to fund youth and sports programs. These could include support for athlete training and the development of sports communities.
This gives sports facility management a broader objective. Revenue generated from the use of assets would not merely serve as a source of income but could also be reinvested in sports development and athlete development programs across North Sumatra.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government is therefore seeking to establish a mutually reinforcing cycle. Professionally managed sports facilities can attract more events and activities. These activities generate revenue and increase public participation. The government can then use the resulting funds to improve infrastructure, support athletes and further develop sports communities.
Transforming sports into an industry also requires cooperation among various stakeholders. The government, sports facility operators, sports organizations, athletes, communities, businesses and the public must assume responsibility according to their respective capacities.
Through a carefully prepared Grand Design and sports facility management under the BLUD model, the North Sumatra Provincial Government aims to create a sports ecosystem that is not only vibrant with activities but also economically strong and capable of supporting athlete development. The move is expected to help establish sports as a productive and independent economic sector while laying the foundation for improved sporting performance among athletes from North Sumatra in the future. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala