By: Moses Waker) *
The national sports week which will be held at the end of 2021 is a matter of pride for indigenous Papuans. Being the host is an honor, because this is the first time an event as big as PON will be held in Papua. In addition, when this event is held on Bumi Cendrawasih, their sense of nationalism will increase.
The Papuan people are very proud because they have the opportunity to host the XX PON. This golden opportunity is very rare, because this is the first time a national level event has been held in Papua, which is very far from the capital city. They were happy and then participated in enlivening the Facebook and Twitter timeline with content in the form of the PON logo and photos of sports venues in Papua.
Nowela Elizabeth, a native Papuan singer, admits that she is happy with the holding of PON in Papua. He feels morally responsible for the success of this sporting event. According to him, an event as big as PON still lacks resonance, therefore he tries to popularize it, so that everyone knows that there is a national level sporting event in Papua.
Nowela together with Edo Kondologit and other original singers from Bumi Cendrawasih made a project and produced a single titled Papua Bangkit. With the hope, PON XX will be a moment to awaken the Papua region. In that sense, PON is not just a sporting event, but also an opportunity to make the economy on Earth of Cendrawasih revive.
The economic revival in Papua must be done, so that the financial condition of its citizens will no longer be deteriorated due to the effects of the pandemic. When there is a PON, thousands of athletes, coaches and supporters will visit Jayapura and other cities where the matches are held. Automatically they will need food, and look for typical Papuan dishes. There will be many new customers and increasing turnover from food vendors.
In addition, PON XX will also increase the commitment to the nation and state, as well as a sense of nationalism for indigenous Papuans. So far, they have loved NKRI and feel that their territory is part of Indonesia. But unfortunately there is incitement from separatist groups, so that peace and unity in Papua is threatened.
When there is PON XX, all the people unite to support the Papua national team. They ignored the separatist groups’ persuasion to separate. Because they feel better to be part of Indonesia. Papua and West Papua are provinces in Indonesia that are legal in the eyes of the law, and their people do not want to be invited to defect.
The existence of PON increases the sense of nationalism among Papuans. Because they will watch the match while united with other supporters from all over the province, and feel the unity in a true sense. This is Indonesia, a nation consisting of many tribes, but still able to unite and uphold tolerance. As well as prioritizing peace and not bullying each other.
The appointment of Papua to host the PON is a gift, because the central government has entrusted the eastern provinces of Indonesia to handle it. This means that they feel that Papuans are capable of being the committee and capable of holding events at the national level.
Indigenous Papuans are also considered intelligent and can hold grand events. This means that the rumors that the people on Earth of Paradise are underestimated, are wrong. Because the Papuan people are also Indonesian citizens, and very deserve to be given the opportunity to become a PON committee. So that there is a principle of justice throughout Indonesia.
PON XX is an event to unite even though it supports teams from different provinces. The supporters remained sporty and remained solid, even though the match was over. They are no longer fighting, but want to work together and help each other. The Papuan people are very proud of this implementation in Papua, because it is trusted by the central government.
) * The author is a Papuan student living in Gorontalo
