Jul 10, 2020 Last Updated 11:50 PM, Jul 2, 2020

Inside Indonesia

Sport

Sport, politics and the 1962 Asian Games

Jakarta’s 1962 Asian Games were a symbol of Sukarno’s postcolonial nation-building

Photo essay: At play on the Mentawai Islands

Discarded goods are reinvented for play. (Photo: Rian Alfianda)

Pencak Silat: Traditional martial art and modern sport

An interview with Ian Wilson, by Andy Fuller

Sport in Indonesia

Terminal 3 Bandara Internasional Soekarno Hatta, Tangerang, Banten, Kamis (2/8). ANTARA FOTO/Rivan Awal Lingga/wsj/18.

The upcoming Asian Games in Palembang and Jakarta, starting on 25 August, present a moment to focus our attention on the expression and uses of sport in Indonesia.

Bonek: the football fans’ resistance movement

Source: Hermawan Handaka courtesy of Fajar Junaedi

Persebaya supporters were forced to fight for years for their team’s recognition

Footy, culture and finding community

A group of young Australians and Indonesians in sporting gear smile around the camera.

Indonesians are bonding more deeply with Melbourne, through football and the Krakatoas

Jakarta’s Asian Games, yesterday and today

South Sumatra governor Alex Noerdin is inspired by Sukarno for his vision of Asian Games impact and infrastructure. (Credit: Isriya Paireepairit)

Ignoring issues from the 1962 Games will not help solve the many problems faced by sport in Indonesia

Football, violence and politics

Brajamusti members - Andy Fuller

Yogyakarta’s notorious Brajamusti elects a president

Review: Surabaya-style football fandom

Review: Surabaya-style football fandom

Junaedi gives a rare insight into Indonesia's football culture

Running in style

Running in style

A new bug for running points toward a new politics of lifestyle

Brothers in arms

Brothers in arms

Papuan footballers score goals against HIV.

Music for the fight, movements for the soul

Music for the fight, movements for the soul

Fight-choreography in West Java is a source of cultural pride

Go home, tourist!

Go home, tourist!

In Kuta, a local surfer has found that it is worthwhile to share waves with tourists.

Fight for survival

Fight for survival

Ring deaths leave Indonesian boxing on the ropes.

For kicks

The history of football is a history of Indonesia itself

Latest Articles

A generation of resistance

Jun 26, 2020 - IVO MATEUS GONCALVES

Students demonstrate at Santa Cruz cemetery, 12 November 1991 / Author

East Timor’s student movement and the struggle against oppression

Essay: Celebrating Imlek, Catholic style

Jun 22, 2020 - JOSH STENBERG

/ Josh Stenberg

Practices such as Imlek masses are a welcome example of tolerance and plurality

West Papua and Black Lives Matter

Jun 17, 2020 - SOPHIE CHAO

We are not monkeys / Twitter

A movement seeking justice, healing, and freedom for Black people has become a powerful rallying call for Indigenous West Papuans

Artists seek assistance

Jun 14, 2020 - RAHMADI FAJAR HIMAWAN

Several pesinden accompanying a wayang performance / Rahmadi Fajar Himawan

Javanese traditional musicians are among the many artists and performers struggling to survive, or qualify for government payments under COVID restrictions

A house of cards?

Jun 02, 2020 - YULIDA PANGASTUTI

ANTARA FOTO/Saiful Bahri/wsj

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the exploitation of non-formal early childhood educators

Subscribe to Inside Indonesia

Receive Inside Indonesia's latest articles and quarterly editions in your inbox.

Lontar Modern Indonesia

A selection of stories from the Indonesian classics and modern writers, periodically published free for Inside Indonesia readers, courtesy of Lontar