JAKARTA – Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) General of Police (ret.) Prof. Dr. Budi Gunawan, SH, M.Sc., Ph.D., PSM delivered an interesting message when he was re-elected as the General Chairperson of the Indonesian E-sports Executive Board (PB ESI) for the 2024-2028 period. According to him, the stigma about electronic games or games can no longer be underestimated.
“In Indonesia, E-Sports as a new sport has shown significant development. With the ecosystem that has been formed, we have succeeded in changing the negative views of society about games,” said Budi Gunawan in his speech at the National Sports Conference (Musornas) and the National Coordination Meeting of PB ESI in Jakarta, Sunday (6/10).
The police general added, through proper coaching and a place, playing games is now a new opportunity that can produce. Moreover, starting from playing games can make Indonesia proud in the international arena.
“Now with the development of e-sports, playing games can be a promising career choice, because it can make money and achieve at an international level,” he continued.
The statement was agreed by the Deputy Chairman 3 of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI), Major General TNI Ret. Andri Sutarno who also attended the Musornas this time. According to him, PB ESI has been present to accommodate the young generation who have the potential to play games.
This is shown by the synergy of the PB ESI management from the central, regional, to the smallest elements such as the gaming community in Indonesia. Andri Sutarno’s appreciation is also based on the creation of continuous competition and training at every level.
“The solidarity of administrators at the national, provincial, regional and community levels must continue to improve its quality through inclusive collaboration programs, ongoing competitions and quality training must also continue to be realized,” he said.
Great hopes for Budi Gunawan’s re-election also came from the Expert Staff for Sports Culture of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ir. Hamka Hendra Noer, M.Si. He said, through this Musornas it is like a momentum to set a new direction for the development of Indonesian E-Sports in the future.
“We are confident that with the competence and commitment that has been demonstrated by the 2020-2024 PBESI management and all parties, in the future we will be able to elect leaders and management teams who are able to bring Indonesian esports to greater success not only at the national level, but also at the international level,” he said.
As is known, PB ESI has recruited E-Sport talents in Indonesia through e-sports academy development for junior high, high school, and college levels with Garudaku Academy. In addition, currently there are 84 high schools with e-sports extracurricular activities and 19 universities with e-sports SMEs.