Menpora Ensure There Is No Delay in PON in Papua

The Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali denied the news circulating regarding the postponement of the National Sports Week (PON) and the XX Papua National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) to 2022.

Menpora responded to reports of delays and doubts from the regional KONI regarding the implementation of the four-year sporting event.

"In the regions doubts arise, because there is news that this PON is not being implemented or has been postponed any longer. Someone informed us that it was postponed again. Even though this has been postponed, ”said Zainudin, after attending a virtual coordination meeting with the DPD RI and governors throughout Indonesia, in Jakarta, Thursday (1/4/2021).

"So we listened to the complaints from the regions, and also confirmed to the regions that there was no delay regarding this PON," he added.

President Joko Widodo also conveyed certainty about the implementation of PON Papua on March 15, in a closed meeting with the ministers. The results of the meeting ensure that the XX Papua PON will still be held on 2-15 October 2021.

Zainudin asked regional heads to no longer hesitate to come to Papua and participate in PON, especially since the Ministry of Youth and Sports has also sent representatives to Papua to review the preparations.

As for the decision regarding the attendance of the audience at PON, Zainudin said it would be adjusted to the situation in the future.

He also will first see the implementation of the Tokyo Olympics which will be held in July-August 2021.

"But we will monitor the implementation of the Tokyo Olympics in July-August 2021, what will it be like, whether there are no spectators at all or limited spectators or what we will see," he said again.

Zainudin hopes that all athletes, coaches, support staff and the community around the match venue will be vaccinated against COVID-19 before PON starts.

Source: https://www.realitarakyat.com/2021/04/menpora-bantah-kabar-penjual-pon-di-papua/