Jakarta International Marathon Urges People to Prioritize a Healthy Lifestyle

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The BTN Jakarta International Marathon (JAKIM) 2026, held on June 13-14, 2026, successfully attracted around 45 thousand participants. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir considers the international-scale running event to be an important momentum to promote a healthy lifestyle while also boosting the economy thru the sport tourism sector and the sports industry.

According to him, the high level of public participation shows that sports are increasingly becoming a part of the lifestyle of the Indonesian people. In addition to providing health benefits, the organization of large-scale sports events can also create a wide economic impact.

"BTN Jakarta International Marathon 2026 is a positive step to encourage the Indonesian people to prioritize a healthy lifestyle. Besides, this event also drives the economy thru the development of sports tourism and the continuously growing sports industry," Erick said.

The Minister appreciated the achievement of the number of participants reaching around 45 thousand people. He considered this figure to reflect the increasing public interest in sports and also to show Indonesia's potential as a sports tourism destination.

Erick hopes that the BTN Jakarta International Marathon can continue to develop and become one of the internationally recognized sports events at the global level. According to him, several world marathon events have successfully built a strong reputation and provided significant economic impact for the host regions.

"In the world, there are the Boston Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon, which have become icons of international sports." Why don't we have a series of similar events in Southeast Asia? Hopefully, in 2027 or 2028, Indonesia along with Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines can collaborate to organize a series of ASEAN regional marathons," he said.

The idea is in line with the results of the Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports (SEAMMYS) held in Bali in May 2026. In the Bali Declaration, Southeast Asian countries agreed to strengthen collaboration and information exchange in organizing large-scale international sports events.

Thru this regional cooperation, ASEAN countries are expected to enhance their capacity to organize sports events, strengthen regional connectivity, and promote economic growth and sports-based tourism.

BTN Jakarta International Marathon 2026 is an example of how the sport serves as a means to improve public fitness. Even, it also acts as a development instrument capable of creating economic opportunities and enhancing Indonesia's appeal on the world stage.