Sport and Sustainability in Indonesia

This chapter examines the implementation of sports development in Indonesia through the lens of progressive sustainability, arguing that conventional sport policy approaches remain inadequate to address the complex social, institutional, and developmental challenges facing emerging sport governance. The chapter conceptualises sustainability as a guiding principle shaping governance, organisational design, and community engagement. It introduces the Sports Clubs and Leagues (SCL) model as a context-sensitive framework that integrates community organisations and educational institutions into a structured, measurable system for achieving sports development goals. The SCL model reflects a broader shift from sport-centred performance objectives to outcomes-oriented, broader social development, emphasising participation, social inclusion, and institutional collaboration. In the Indonesian context, this chapter illustrates that sustainable sport development relies on coordinated actions between both governmental and non-governmental actors. It also emphasises the importance of locally embedded delivery mechanisms that can adapt to various social and territorial conditions. The analysis highlights both the potential and constraints of progressive sport development in Indonesia, offering relevant insights to other developing countries seeking to reconcile ambition, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability in sport policy and practice.