JAKARTA (INDONESIA) – President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday authorities would make sure that Indonesia is prepared to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup next year. It would be establishing “strict health protocols” to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Jokowi, as the president is widely known, said the government has picked six cities across the Southeast Asian country for hosting the tournament scheduled to start from May 20 to June 12, 2021, including Jakarta and resort island of Bali.
He told cabinet ministers in a broadcast meeting, “The most important thing is we have to make sure that Indonesia has prepared strict health protocols so it would be very safe to visit and to host the U-20 (World Cup) 2021.”
According to Muhadjir Effendy, Indonesia’s chief development minister, World soccer’s governing body FIFA had decided to not conduct opening and closing ceremonies because of the pandemic.
The country had recorded, as of Monday, 365,240 COVID-19 cases, with 12,617 deaths.
Sports Minister Zainudin Amali told the meeting that FIFA and the appointed local authority were yet to decide on the number of people to be allowed in stadiums, while ensuring safety, .
“We hope that in May-June, audiences will be allowed whether with half or a limited capacity of the stadium,” he said.
Zainudin said Indonesia’s infrastructure developments for the tournament were in progress, including stadiums, training and other supporting facilities, as well as for visitors.
“Organising this world cup is not only for the sports activities, but also tourism,” he said.