The Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex (GBK), a legendary landmark in Jakarta, is undergoing a transformation to elevate its status to become a leading regional sports hub as well as cultural, entertainment, education and tourism destination in South-east Asia.
Since its opening in 1960, when it hosted the 1962 Asian Games, GBK has also housed countless prestigious events, including the recent Asian Games, Asian Para Games, FIFA U-17 World Cup, and concerts by global superstars Blackpink and Coldplay.
Indonesia aims to establish GBK as a global player for sports, arts, culture, music, education and business
In October 2025, GBK will host the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2025, where 70 countries are expected to participate.
In a dialogue with Jakarta hospitality and travel media recently, Rakhmadi Kusumo (Adi), president director of the GBK Complex Management Centre shared that the venue was poised to become a world-class destination beyond sporting events.
He said: “We want to be more than a domestic leader – our goal is to establish GBK as a global player for sports, arts, culture, music, education and business.”
To achieve this, GBK Management Centre is studying successful international sports complexes, with Singapore Sports Hub serving as a key benchmark.
As a government asset worth 348 trillion rupiah (US$21.8 billion, based on 2020 valuation), the GBK complex spans 279 hectares of land in Jakarta’s city centre, making it not only the oldest but also the biggest sports hub in South-east Asia.
Eighty-four per cent of the complex is an open green area, home to rare species of trees and 22 species of birds.
The GBK complex is divided into three primary zones: sports (53 per cent), commercial (25 per cent), with the remainder for government buildings.
The Sports zone houses the main stadium, secondary stadium, soccer field, swimming stadium, athletic stadium, courts for tennis, basketball, hockey and baseball, gymnasium halls and an archery facility.
The commercial area takes in hotels such as Fairmont Jakarta, Hotel Mulia Senayan, The Sultan Hotel & Residence, Harris Hotel FX Sudirman and Artotel Gelora Senayan, as well as major shopping malls and restaurants.
Extensive renovations of the sports facilities started in 2018 for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games. The Jakarta Convention Centre, revamped for the 46th ASEAN Summit last year, is in the process of a management take-over from Singgasana Hotels & Resorts. Additionally, Artotel Gelora Senayan is undergoing a complete overhaul, while plans to revitalise Block 15, home to The Sultan Hotel and Residence, will commence once legal issues with the hotel management are resolved.
Taking inspiration from Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, the revitalised space aims to accommodate international events and meet the need for open-space public activities.
Other plans by GBK Management Centre include developing an interactive museum showcasing the history of the complex, expanding the GBK facility tour which is currently available to students and the general public, as well as adding more electric buses between the GBK gates and around its vicinity.
Adi said precise development plans were still being decided on.
The Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex (GBK), a legendary landmark in Jakarta, is undergoing a transformation to elevate its status to become a leading regional sports hub as well as cultural, entertainment, education and tourism destination in South-east Asia.
Since its opening in 1960, when it hosted the 1962 Asian Games, GBK has also housed countless prestigious events, including the recent Asian Games, Asian Para Games, FIFA U-17 World Cup, and concerts by global superstars Blackpink and Coldplay.
In October 2025, GBK will host the 53rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2025, where 70 countries are expected to participate.
In a dialogue with Jakarta hospitality and travel media recently, Rakhmadi Kusumo (Adi), president director of the GBK Complex Management Centre shared that the venue was poised to become a world-class destination beyond sporting events.
He said: “We want to be more than a domestic leader – our goal is to establish GBK as a global player for sports, arts, culture, music, education and business.”
To achieve this, GBK Management Centre is studying successful international sports complexes, with Singapore Sports Hub serving as a key benchmark.
As a government asset worth 348 trillion rupiah (US$21.8 billion, based on 2020 valuation), the GBK complex spans 279 hectares of land in Jakarta’s city centre, making it not only the oldest but also the biggest sports hub in South-east Asia.
Eighty-four per cent of the complex is an open green area, home to rare species of trees and 22 species of birds.
The GBK complex is divided into three primary zones: sports (53 per cent), commercial (25 per cent), with the remainder for government buildings.
The Sports zone houses the main stadium, secondary stadium, soccer field, swimming stadium, athletic stadium, courts for tennis, basketball, hockey and baseball, gymnasium halls and an archery facility.
The commercial area takes in hotels such as Fairmont Jakarta, Hotel Mulia Senayan, The Sultan Hotel & Residence, Harris Hotel FX Sudirman and Artotel Gelora Senayan, as well as major shopping malls and restaurants.
Extensive renovations of the sports facilities started in 2018 for the Asian Games and Asian Para Games. The Jakarta Convention Centre, revamped for the 46th ASEAN Summit last year, is in the process of a management take-over from Singgasana Hotels & Resorts. Additionally, Artotel Gelora Senayan is undergoing a complete overhaul, while plans to revitalise Block 15, home to The Sultan Hotel and Residence, will commence once legal issues with the hotel management are resolved.
Taking inspiration from Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, the revitalised space aims to accommodate international events and meet the need for open-space public activities.
Other plans by GBK Management Centre include developing an interactive museum showcasing the history of the complex, expanding the GBK facility tour which is currently available to students and the general public, as well as adding more electric buses between the GBK gates and around its vicinity.
Adi said precise development plans were still being decided on.