Lion Dance World Tournament To Boost Indonesia's Sports Tourism

JAKARTA, May 17 (Bernama-ANTARA) -- The 1st FOBI World Championship, an international-level lion dance competition, on May 17-19 in Jakarta, is expected to help Indonesia boost its sports tourism, an official at the Youth and Sports Ministry stated.

Samsudin, the ministry's expert staff for sports law, lauded the Indonesian Lion Dance Sport Association (FOBI) for the preparatory steps taken to hold the world championship aimed at supporting Indonesia's lion dance scene.

"Indonesia's status of host for the lion dance world championship is expected to introduce the country to participating countries and bring progress to its sport tourism that, in turn, will benefit the national economy," he noted in the ministry's statement received here on Friday, reported ANTARA.

Samsudin affirmed the ministry's full support for FOBI's initiative to make Indonesia a proper host and an outstanding participant.

The official further stated that Indonesia's lion dance would reach an important milestone this year, as the sport will make its inaugural appearance in the national sports championship, the 21st National Sports Week (PON) scheduled in Aceh and North Sumatra.

Samsudin expressed hope that the world championship would help Indonesia hone the skills of its lion dance athletes in order to form the best national athletes and teams.

"I hope that this championship will produce the best athletes who are willing to exert their best to achieve national and international feats in the lion dance sport," he remarked.

The 1st FOBI World Championship will draw participation from a total of 550 athletes coming from national champion teams of 10 countries.

During the championship, the athletes will be vying for three different trophies, namely the President Cup for the southern lion dance (barongsai), the Youth and Sports Minister Cup for the northern lion dance (pekingsai), and the Defense Minister Cup for the dragon dance.

-- BERNAMA-ANTARA