Papuans are enthusiastic and optimistic about the XX National Sports Week (PON). The existence of this national sporting event is expected to be able to advance Papua and increase the spirit of brotherhood.
The XX National Sports Week (PON) will be held in Papua from 2 to 15 October 2021. In this multievent, there are four regencies and cities that will host, one of which is Jayapura City.
Jayapura Mayor Benhur Tomi Mano said the community was very proud of the trust in the plan to organize XX PON in Papua. Moreover, international standard venues have been built.
The Mayor of Jayapura admitted that his party had given encouragement to the entire community, including the three regents in Papua, to jointly succeed in organizing the XX Papua PON. He also explicitly said that the four regencies and cities where the XX PON was held were very safe.
Previously, the Manuri Tribe’s extended family stated that they were ready to support the implementation of the XX PON. The Manuri tribal chief, Soleman Manuri said, as a form of support that will be carried out in the success of the PON, the Manuri tribe will display local wisdom in the form of local cuisines, to pamper the eyes and tongues of guests and athletes who come from outside Papua. For this reason, Soleman invites all indigenous Papuans (OAP) not to be just spectators in the implementation of the XX PON, but to be involved in the success of the national agenda.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador of PON XX Papua, Boaz Solossa, ensured that PON XX would still be implemented. This was conveyed by Boaz following the news that PON would be back due to the impact of the increase in Covid-19 cases. The Papuan PON was originally set to take place in October 2020, then was postponed by one year due to the global outbreak of the corona virus.
So indirectly involved in the preparation of the Great Committee (PB) PON. The four-year multi-sport event was finally decided to take place on October 2-15, 2021. Of course, Boaz had multiple challenges due to the uncertain situation caused by the pandemic. But he did not stop to echo the PON Papua. However, PON has become one of the historic national multievents for the region.
He also believes that every parent of sports is able to prepare themselves despite the pandemic conditions. It’s just a matter of how the government can pay attention to athletes so that what they are doing goes well and the athlete’s motivation doesn’t stop until before the PON. In addition, Boaz also mentioned that both PB, the Regional Government, and the central government continue to strive to prepare good and guaranteed facilities.
On a different occasion, the secretary of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Papua Province Kenius Kogoya hoped that all Papuans would always be optimistic and support the implementation of the XX 2020 National Sports Week (PON) in Papua. Kenius said that PON is not only owned by the government and KONI, but also belongs to all citizens in Papua.
He invited the whole community not to be pessimistic and to be optimistic that PON must be successful in Papua. We must not respond to things that make things less good here, even though they know something is happening in Papua, but support for this event must remain solid.
For Papua, PON is a very important event, because this event will of course be an added value for equitable development in Papua to equitable economic development in Papua. Because the success of PON is not only a matter of successful implementation and successful achievements.
This national event should be supported because PON is able to improve the economy of the people in the villages, especially if the community can sell local Papuan accessories, as well as local specialties that can be sold at tourist attractions. This of course will boost economic sales and even PAD in each area designated as a PON cluster.
President Joko Widodo had reminded that the PON in Papua was not just a sports competition. However, PON is a common arena to celebrate diversity, strengthen the spirit of brotherhood and an arena to strengthen unity and integrity.
The enthusiasm of the Papuan people in welcoming the PON is unquestionable, moreover, the opportunity to host it will not necessarily be obtained in the next 50 years. The local government, the large committee and the community are also optimistic that this event will be well organized despite various security issues and the pandemic.
