The 2025 Congress of the International Dragon & Lion Dance Federation (IDLDF) was officially held on April 28 in Pudong, Shanghai. A total of 80 delegates from 21 countries and regions gathered for this official congress. The main agenda was to discuss the global development of dragon and lion dance, aiming to bring this traditional Chinese sport to a more international level.
Besides the strategic discussion on sport development, the congress also held elections for new board members. One of the key figures elected was Edy Kusuma, the current President of PB FOBI (Indonesian Dragon and Lion Dance Sport Federation), who was appointed as Vice President of IDLDF. This marks the first time a leader from Indonesia has been elected to such a high position in the international federation — a historic milestone for the country and FOBI.
Indonesian Dragon and Lion Dance Joins National Sports Week (PON) – A Major Breakthrough
As the leading figure of dragon and lion dance in Indonesia, Edy Kusuma has consistently worked to promote and expand the sport nationwide. Under his leadership, Indonesia has achieved significant progress in this field.
Currently, 30 out of 38 provinces in Indonesia have established regional governing bodies for the sport. There are now more than 500 officially registered dragon and lion dance clubs under FOBI, with thousands of young athletes — more than 80% of whom are native Indonesians of non-Chinese descent.
In recent years, FOBI has successfully organized major national and international tournaments, including the National Championship in Yogyakarta and the 1st FOBI World Championship – Presidential Championship in Jakarta. Each event reflects the hard work, dedication, and strong support from Indonesian leaders for the growth of the sport.
One of the biggest achievements came in PON XXI Aceh – North Sumatra 2024, where for the first time ever, dragon and lion dance was officially included as a medal sport. This is the first time globally that the sport was formally recognized in a national multi-sport event, proving Indonesia’s strong commitment and appreciation toward the art and sport of dragon and lion dance.
Bali to Host 2026 World Dragon and Lion Dance Championship
At the congress, it was also agreed in principle that Indonesia, through FOBI, will host the 2026 World Dragon and Lion Dance Championship in Bali. With Bali’s international appeal, the event is expected to attract tourists and enthusiasts from around the world, significantly boosting the global influence of the sport.
In his official presentation to the international federation, Edy Kusuma stated:
“Indonesia, as a meeting point of diverse cultures, has shown that dragon and lion dance can become a beautiful blend of Chinese heritage and local traditions. Hosting the world championship in Bali — with blue oceans and clear skies as the backdrop — where athletes from around the world compete on one stage, will be an extraordinary cultural celebration.”
During the congress, delegates also approved the Executive Committee’s report and made necessary revisions to the federation’s bylaws. The Indonesian delegation included FOBI Vice Presidents Tony Herman and Hansen Ng, Secretary General Heryanto Salim, and Deputy Secretary General I, Andrean Wijaya.
Source: PB FOBI Secretariat Team
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