Surabaya – Indonesia will host the 32nd AUSC (ASEAN University Sport Council) Meeting and host the 5th General Assembly of the ASEAN University Sport Council 2022. The agenda for the meeting which was held on Wednesday (7/12), one of which looked at the preparations for the ASEAN University Games (AUG) 2024 which will be held in Surabaya and Malang. The ASEAN University Games is a sports competition event for athletes from various ASEAN universities which has been held every 2 years by the ASEAN University Sport Council since 1981.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) Suharti said that AUSC has a very important and strategic role for the future, especially in increasing cooperation and developing interests and talents as well as sports achievements among students in ASEAN countries. Several students in ASEAN have achieved the highest achievements in the field of sports by winning medals at the Olympics.

"In Indonesia as an example, student athlete Windy Cantika won a bronze medal in the 49 kg Weightlifting Olympic Games 2020 Tokyo, Japan. We also hope that in the future there will be more and more athletes from universities who can win Olympic medals," said Suharti.

Suharti added that the contribution of athletes from universities in Indonesia accounted for 30 percent of the medal-winning athletes at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. Therefore, Suharti hopes that in the future AUSC can play a bigger role in developing sports leadership, increasing awareness of the importance of sports activities to improve physical fitness in students and inter-university cooperation for the development of research and science in the field of sports among member countries.

Acting Director of Learning and Student Affairs of the Ministry of Education and Culture Sri Gunani Pratiwi who acts as General Chairperson of the Central Board of BAPOMI (Indonesian Student Sports Development Agency) revealed that currently all delegates from both the ASEAN University Sports Council (AUSC) and delegates from AUSC member federations have seen the readiness of implementing ASEAN University Games 2024 in Indonesia.

"The delegates have seen the facilities, infrastructure and facilities of the sports venues which will be competed in AUG 2024. We received input, suggestions and directions from the delegates for our readiness to host the 2024 ASEAN University Games (AUG). ,” said Sri.

Meanwhile, AUSC President, Mohd Rusdan Mohd Jailani explained some of the history inscribed by the Indonesian government in hosting the mega sports event. Among them, Indonesia is the first Asian country to successfully host the 2019 Asian Games in two big cities, namely Palembang and Jakarta.

"It will definitely be a new experience for all participants, especially for the first time in history AUG will be held in two cities, namely Surabaya and Malang," said Rusdan.

Rusdan added that AUSC as one of the most active sports federations, will continue to work with interesting sports discussions and programs and produce excellent student athletes among the South Asian region in the future.

"On this occasion I would like to invite the entire AUSC extended family to continue to support the AUSC agenda," added Rusdan.

AUG 2024 is planned to be held from July during the student semester holidays. AUG 2024 will be held at 9 universities in East Java consisting of 5 universities in Surabaya and 4 universities in Malang. Universities that are ready to host AUG 2024 include East Java Veterans National Development University, University of Surabaya, Ten November Institute of Technology, Airlangga University, Surabaya State University, Brawijaya University, Malang State University, Malang Muhammadiyah University, and Malang Islamic University. The planned 18 sports that will be contested include Athletic, Tennis, Petanque, Basketball 5×5, Basketball 3×3, HandBall, Futsal, Wushu, Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Chess, Bridge, Archery, Sand Volleyball, Indoor Volleyball, Badminton, Pencak Silat.