By: Timothy Gobay )*
The National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) is proof of the state’s presence for people with disabilities. It is hoped that this prestigious sporting event will run successfully and become a motivation for athletes with disabilities to achieve achievements
Peparnas XVI has officially started. In line with the mandate of Law no. 3 of 2005 concerning the national sports system, sports rights that must be obtained by persons with disabilities are the government’s obligation to provide infrastructure facilities for people with disabilities by providing disability-friendly buildings and supporting facilities.
In the XVI Peparnas event in Papua, the National Peparnas Committee together with the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of the Papua province have provided 24 hotels that are friendly to people with disabilities. The 24 disability-friendly hotels are intended for athletes from 12 sports to support the success of the Peparnas XVI Papua accommodation which will take place from 2-15 November 2021.
Not only that, the committee also ensures that the disability-friendly facilities also apply to public facilities. These include preparing assistive devices for people with disabilities, starting from airports, accommodation for athletes and no less important at match venues that have passed the feasibility test.
Ma’ruf Amin also did not forget to express his appreciation for the Governor of Papua Lukas Enembe and all his staff. The reason is, in the midst of many challenges and the Covid-19 Pandemic situation, the National Peparnas Committee can still hold this sports party.
On a different occasion, the Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Menpora RI), Zainudin Amali targeted the implementation of Peparnas to become an arena in attracting young athletes who would later be included in the National Training Center (Pelatnas) whose coaching was carried out by the Indonesian NPC in Solo, Java. Middle.
He also believes that from the 12 sports that will be competed in Peparnas XVI, there will be athletes who can be prepared to take part in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of his speech, Vice President (Wapres) Ma’ruf Amin said he was optimistic that Peparnas in Papua could run successfully, like the XX 2021 PON. This is supported by the Papuan people’s love for sports, as well as their role as warm hosts for the holding of the 2021 National National Tournament.
On the occasion, Vice President (Wapres) Ma’ruf Amin also expressed his views on Peparnas. For him, peparnas is not just a sports competition, but also a means of proving equality and equality for all people in Indonesia.
He also said that Peparnas is a very special event, an event to break down the boundaries and come out as winners. Peparnas is not just a sports competition, but also a proof of the spirit of equality and equality for all of us.
In addition, the Chairperson of the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC), Senny Marbun, appreciated President Jokowi and Menpora Zainudin Amali for the support given to athletes with disabilities and the Papua National Tourism Board. More than that, Peparnas is also proof of the government’s commitment to providing equal treatment for every citizen. This was previously mentioned by the Chairperson of the Indonesian NPC, Senny Marbun, the day before the opening of Peparnas.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo was present virtually and greeted all the people who attended the opening of Peparnas XVI 2002. In the virtual video, Jokowi expressed his apologies for not being able to attend in person at this event. Because he immediately went into quarantine. Instead, he promised to fully attend the Peparnas closing event which will begin on November 13, 2021.
The Peparnas Grand Committee (PB) also continues to strive to prepare the XVI Peparnas to run well. There are 10 fields in PB Peparnas and all of them are ready with their respective duties. Everything is ready in Papua, starting from accommodation, transportation, consumption and his party is also safe from the condition that Papua is very poor.
Preparation of course not only sports equipment, accommodation and other necessities, but also athletes with disabilities. In addition to participating in competitions, athletes with disabilities can also be refreshed by enjoying tourism in Papua.
Peparnas is proof that people with disabilities can also excel, besides those with disabilities can also show their abilities in sports.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Gorontalo
