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After weeks of politicking and finger pointing over the Bank Century and Corruption Eradication Commission scandals, all Indonesians have something to celebrate this week. The country achieved sporting excellence by winning 43 gold medals, 53 silvers and 74 bronzes in the Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos, placing third behind Thailand and Vietnam.

The country had set a goal of coming in third at the games, and we can take pride in the achievement of our athletes. It proves that if we as Indonesians put our minds together to work toward a common goal, there is nothing we cannot achieve.

Nation building is, after all, about human achievement and development. Sport is an integral part of building a strong and vital national community through physical well-being, which is part of holistic growth. We need more Indonesians to excel in sports and engage in sporting activities. Regardless of where the field of play is located — on the international stage, at school or at the village level — sporting competition sharpens the mind, the body and the spirit.

Through sports, an individual develops more than just his or her physical prowess. Sport involves cognitive skills, social skills and emotional maturity. Through competition in various sporting endeavors, young people also learn how to win and lose graciously. This develops a sense of ethics as we learn that winning at all costs, especially if it involves cheating or cutting corners, is unacceptable.

As the SEA Games proved, sports can also lift a nation’s spirit and foster pride. It can help forge a stronger national identity and build unity. The nation watches the best efforts of its athletes and in so doing, becomes united whether the result is success or failure — so long as our athletes give it their best.

We hope that the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) will not rest on its laurels and will push on from here to even greater heights. In 2011, the next SEA Games will be hosted her. The country will have even more to celebrate if, as the host country, we come out on top of the 2011 medal tally. This is no pipe dream if we as a nation put our hearts into the effort.

More importantly, we hope that the country’s success at the recently concluded SEA Games will spur many more young Indonesians to take up sports as a lifestyle choice. A healthy and physically active population will not just lead to success in the gym, arena or on the field, but will also result in a higher quality of life as well as lower health costs.

All great nations excel in sports. China’s rise is also linked to its sporting achievements and its successful hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Indonesia too can aim to one day host the Games and to have world-class athletes. This is a realistic, if ambitious, goal that we should begin working toward today.