President Jokowi Officially Opens PON XX Papua

Jayapura: The President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially opened the National Sports Week (PON) XX Papua at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura, Saturday (2/10) evening WITA. President Jokowi was accompanied by the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali and the ranks of the Heads of State High Institutions, the Minister of the Advanced Indonesia Cabinet, the Chair of KONI and the Ambassadors of friendly countries.

“By saying Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, in the name of God, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful, I officially declare the XX National Sports Week to be opened,” said President Jokowi.

In his remarks, President Jokowi said he was proud to be in Papua and officially opened the XX PON because it was the first time in the history of the PON to be held in the province.

“We are proud to open the XX PON, the first PON to be held in Papua. This sports week illustrates the progress of Papua, shows the readiness of infrastructure in Papua and the readiness of the Papuan people to organize big events to achieve national and international achievements,” said Jokowi.

In addition, according to Jokowi, this PON has a great meaning for all Indonesian people. This is because PON is considered a stage of unity, a stage of togetherness, a stage of brotherhood, a stage of equality and a stage of justice to advance together and prosper together within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

“This magnificent stadium (Lukas Enemebe Stadium) is not the only symbol of Papua’s progress. Sea connectivity, land connectivity, air connectivity, airports, ports, Papua highways and the development of Papuan human resources are other achievements of Papua’s very proud progress,” he concluded.

In addition to continuing to improve the quality and quantity of formal educational institutions, Jokowi admitted that he had inaugurated the construction of the Papua Youth Creative Hub to create entrepreneurs so that they could increase the potentials that exist in Papua.

“The achievements of Papuan youth must continue to be nurtured and we develop. The achievements of Papuan athletes such as Lisa Rumbewas, the weightlifter, Serafi Anelies, the athletic, Franklin Ramses Burumi, Boaz Solossa, football should be followed by other Papuan youths,” he hoped.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Sports Committee (KONI), Marciano Norman, in his report said that the XX PON will be held from October 2-15, 2021. However, the match has started since last September 22.

The XX Papua PON was attended by 34 contingents from 34 provinces with a total of 6,116 guest athletes and 923 Papuan athletes competing in 37 sports consisting of 56 disciplines and 681 match numbers. This PON will compete for 681 gold medals, 681 silver medals, and 877 bronze medals.

“The implementation is spread across four clusters, covering the city of Jayapura, Jayapura district, Mimika district and Merauke district, using as many as 45 national standard venues and some of them are international, including the Lukas Enembe stadium,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Papua who is also the Chairman of PB PON XX, Lukas Enembe as the host said he was happy to welcome the contingent from 34 provinces throughout Indonesia. According to him, the gathering of community representatives throughout Indonesia in Papua is a symbol of victory.

“Welcome, good luck,” he said.

The opening ceremony of PON XX Papua began with the appearance of singers from Papua, Edo Kondologit, Michael Jakarimilena, Nowela Elizabeth Auparay by singing the song “I am Papua”. The event then continued with the defile of contingents from 34 provinces starting with the contingent from Aceh, followed by Bali and Banten and ending with the Papuan contingent.

The event then continued with the raising of the Red and White, accompanied by the anthem Indonesia Raya and the raising of the PON flag by the legendary Papuan athletes. After that, the reading of the athlete’s promise and the appointment of the referee on duty at XX PON.

Attending the opening ceremony were, among others, DPR Speaker Puan Maharani, MPR Chair Bambang Soesatyo, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, PUPR Minister, Basuki Hadimuljono, and Investment Minister/Head of the Investment Coordinating Board, Bahlil Lahadalia, National Police Chief, TNI Commander, KONI Chair , Governor of Papua Province.(ded)

Source: Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sport