By: Fauzi Iskan) *
National Sports Week (PON) is a multi-event that brings together 34 provinces in a multi-event. This certainly shows the importance of unity in the midst of differences in ethnicity and language, the motto of Unity in Diversity must be inherent in the soul of every native son, official and official in the Sports environment.
The fair play attitude that is respected is expected to give birth to outstanding athletes who will uplift the dignity of the nation and state in the sports arena.
Of course this 4-year event is expected to give meaning to athletes and sports lovers, for the first time participating in PON they certainly can interact and get acquainted with fellow athletes from other regions. While old athletes who have often followed it, it will be a place for friendship and knitting unity with athletes in other regions.
Sport has long been an arena to unite the nation’s children, despite different religions, races and ethnicities, but in the arena all have the same opportunity to be the best.
The rules in each sport do not discriminate between races, ethnicities, religions or between one region and another. To smooth every race, all must comply with the rules set.
Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali, hopes that Papua 2020 National Sports Week (PON), in addition to being an event to make achievements, is also a place for friendship to strengthen brotherhood.
The carved achievements are also expected to be a measure to be able to a higher level. Zainudin also hopes that the PON XX event in Papua can run smoothly and produce good thoughts.
Minister Zainudin also conveyed his impression when reviewing the Bangkit Papua Stadium. According to him, the pride of the Papua community stadium was extraordinary. The capacity of the audience reaches 40 thousand with the type of single seat.
Not only that, Menpora is also proud of the international level aquatic arena, which is only 700 meters from Bangkit Stadium.
Previously, Zainudin also reviewed a number of venues / match venues that were still in the process of being worked on.
According to him, from the preparation of the next few months, Papua prepared to host the PON 2020. He also ensured that 3 new arenas which had begun to be built after the issuance of Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2020, could also be completed before October 2020.
He also asked all parties not to doubt the readiness of Papua, which this year had the opportunity to host the PON 2020. So there are no more questions about Papua’s preparations for welcoming the 4-year multievent.
In addition, he also ensured that the construction of venues in Merauke Regency was on target. While the venues in Mimika Regency are ready to be used.
The PON event is not only the formality of the organization, but the PON is important for Papua because it will be an added value for equitable development in Papua, on the other hand the people’s economy can also increase because the event will bring athletes from various provinces throughout Indonesia.
The athletes and their entourage will certainly have the potential to increase income from local people who sell souvenirs or local wisdom typical of Papua.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo also placed great attention on the success of the national sports event through Presidential Instruction Number 10 of 2017 concerning the support of organizing the XX National Sports Week and XVI National Paralympic Year 2020 in Papua Province to support the smooth PON XX in Bumi Cenderawasih, as a manifestation that the government Indonesia is serious and committed to advancing Papua in all fields.
Of course with the PON XX event, it is an event for Papua to show the world, that Papua is a peaceful, safe and advanced land within the framework of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia. With this event, it is hoped that the international community can assess that Papua is a developed and great region.
This pride is certainly enlivened by all people in Indonesia, so that people around the world know that Papua is part of Indonesia and Papua is a peaceful land.
) * The author is a Citizen Journalist / Observer of Sports and Public Health