6 Unique Facts About PON XX Papua You Should Know

National Sport Games (PON)

Jakarta – The 20th National Sports Week (PON) took place in Papua. This four-year sporting event was originally held in 2020, but due to the pandemic, PON Papua was finally held in 2021.

The XX PON Sports Competition will compete in 37 sports, which will be attended by around 10,000 athletes and officials from 34 provinces. Well, behind the XX Papua PON, there are 6 unique facts, you know. Anything?

6 Unique Facts about PON XX Papua

1. Competing Electronic Sports (Esports)

For the first time in the history of the PON event, an electronic sports match was competed.

E-sport enters the PON XX Papua 2021 event as an exhibition sport by competing for e-Football PES 2021, Mobile Legends, and Free Fire, as well as an additional local game Lokapala as a friendly match.

2. PON 2020 to be held in 2021

Similar to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Papua PON should also be held last year, but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reporting from the official website of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, in 2021 the Papuan PON will finally be held from October 2-15, 2021. As for some sports, they will start first, such as esports, men’s softball, water polo, baseball, wushu, and others.

Because during the pandemic, PON Papua was held with strict health protocols and security rules to support the continuity of the event until it was finished.

3. Wide Area Coverage
   If the previous PON was only carried out in a maximum of two cities, then in the Papua PON 2021 there will be four locations, namely Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, Mimika Regency, and Merauke Regency. The details are:

• Jayapura City: 15 sports with 21 discipline numbers,
• Jayapura Regency: 14 sports with 22 discipline numbers,
• Mimika Regency: 9 sports with 12 discipline numbers,
• Merauke Regency: 6 sports with six discipline numbers.

3. Using the Lukas Enembe Stadium
   The stadium which was specially prepared to welcome the XX PON resembles the shape of a “Honai” or traditional Papuan house plus a steel facade with traditional Papuan carvings.

The facilities presented have an international standard with concepts and philosophies taken from the natural and cultural wealth of Papua.

This Papuan sports icon has a capacity of 40,000 spectators according to FIFA and IAAF standards, accompanied by equipment imported directly from abroad so that it is at Olympic level.

5. Papua Icon Noken
   Noken is an icon of Papuan local wisdom as a tool to carry goods that have been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage

A total of 25,000 noken became official souvenirs of PON XX Papua for athletes and officials. These souvenirs were made possible by the collaboration of BP PON with Papuan mothers who were also given a location to sell Papuan tokens.

6. Papuan Endemic Mascot
   The mascot of PON Papua XX is no less interesting. The tree kangaroo or “Kangpho” is one of the rare endemic animals whose population has decreased by up to 80% since its discovery in 1990.

While the Cenderawasih, or the “Drawa” icon, is also a protected animal because it is vulnerable to hunting or illegal trade.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy through its official Instagram, the existence of these two mascots is expected to provide an understanding of Papua’s natural diversity which should be jointly protected by the Indonesian people.

Source: Detik