<![CDATA[This article examines the coverage of the 1963 Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO) in the November 1963 edition of the Merdeka newspaper. The event arose from tensions between Indonesia and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following the 4th Asian Games in 1962 and simultaneously embodied President Sukarno’s concept of the conflict between the Old Established Forces (OLDEFO) and the New Emerging Forces (NEFO). The study employs historical methods, including heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography, to examine how Merdeka constructed the meaning of GANEFO from its preparation and implementation through to its conclusion. The results of the study show that *Merdeka* framed GANEFO as a political instrument of anti-imperialism, a forum for solidarity among postcolonial nations, proof of Indonesia’s capacity as a host, and an arena for athletic achievement. Compared to previous studies that emphasized diplomatic conflicts, the formation of political alliances, or Indonesia’s relationship with the IOC, this research highlights the process by which daily media narratives transformed sporting events into discourses of nationalism and the shaping of an international image. These representations reinforced public pride and projected Indonesia as a leader of the New Emerging Forces, although they remained influenced by editorial compromises and the political constraints on the press during the Guided Democracy era.]]>
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