All stadiums selected for hosting the 2023 U-20 World Cup could be improved based on the notes provided by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairperson Erick Thohir, has said.
The PSSI chairperson, who is also the chair of the local organizing committee (LOC) for the World Cup, expressed the hope that the improvements would be completed on time.
"There are many notes. It was not me who compiled the notes (on the improvements for the stadiums), but FIFA," he informed at Gelora Bung Karno Complex here on Monday.
He also provided details on the notes given by FIFA -- for instance, Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta, needs to improve the guard rails for the training ground as well as the arrangement of the broadcast cameras.
The Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung District, West Java Province, has been asked to improve the broadcast area, in addition to revamping the grandstands.
Meanwhile, there was a note on the improvement of parking areas of Jakabaring Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in Palembang City, South Sumatra Province.
Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya City, East Java Province, will need to fix access for media crews, facilities for disabled spectators, parking lots, and seats on the southern grandstand.
In addition to those four stadiums, Indonesia has prepared two more stadiums for the cup, namely Manahan Stadium in Solo City, Central Java Province, and Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar District, Bali Province.
FIFA will inspect the stadiums on March 21 to 27, 2023.
Thohir, who is also the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister, said he expected that FIFA will not drop any of the proposed stadiums by deeming them unprepared.
Hence, the central and local governments will collaborate in improving the venues, he added.
"The work of the central government (on venue improvement) is directly led by Mr. Basuki (Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono). The local governments also have important roles (in the improvement attempts), as stated in the host city contract," he added.
The 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup will be held from May 20 to June 11 and will be joined by 24 countries.
So far, 20 countries have qualified to play at the cup, namely Indonesia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, the United States, Fiji, New Zealand, England, France, Israel, Italy, Slovakia, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia.
Editor : Abdullah Rifai
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