PON Papua is not just a sporting event

Just waiting for a matter of days, the XX National Sports Week (PON) will soon be held on "Bumi Cenderawasih" Papua. Officially, the activity is scheduled to open on October 2 to 15, 2021.

For the public, especially sports lovers, of course, the biggest sporting event at the national level is eagerly awaited. How not, the public will see firsthand the proud athletes competing in 37 sports that will be competed.

The implementation of PON this time is quite special. Because, for the first time, the four-year sporting event was held in Papua. There are four clusters that are the main locations for the 20th PON, namely Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, Mimika Regency and the farthest is located in Merauke Regency.

If we look further, PON XX is not just a sporting event. However, far from that, the sporting event is an effort to glue, strengthen and emphasize the diversity that exists in Indonesia.

The appointment of Papua as the host of the event was of course with various considerations and careful studies. Starting from geographical, cultural, social aspects to security issues.

It is undeniable that so far Papua has not been separated from the spotlight on allegations of violence and human rights violations, infrastructure imbalances, social problems, and the desire to break away from the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

However, one by one these problems can be solved. Various efforts have been continuously made by the government so that Indonesia will not be divided, let alone lose one of the pieces of "paradise" at the eastern end of Indonesia.

Through PON XX, it is hoped that the community can strengthen their love for the country and of course the various problems in Papua can soon be resolved in an elegant and more humane way.

Director of Standardization of Materials and Methods of State Apparatus, Pancasila Ideology Development Agency (BPIP) Aris Heru Utomo said in the context of nationality, the election of Papua as the host province of XX PON represents the spirit of the Republic of Indonesia whose territory stretches from Sabang to Merauke.

"This will be a kind of rope that represents the unity of Indonesia from east to west," said Aris Heru Hutomo.

In sports, at least save the three main spirits to be achieved. First, is the spirit of unity, sportsmanship and working together to achieve achievements.

Therefore, the administration of PON XX, the government must be able to capture and unite these three things to athletes, officials, organizers and the community, especially brothers and sisters on Earth of Cenderawasih.

The presence of athletes, officials and the general public who will watch live or from the television screen can have a positive impact on the cultural richness in Papua.

The implementation of PON XX is also expected to be a place to explore all sectors of life in Papua. Starting from tourism, community life to culture that may not exist in other provinces.

"Closer, we do not only see the physical but also the culture, local wisdom, tourism and community interaction there," said Aris.

Thus, it is hoped that Papua will not only be known as a producer of abundant natural resources, but also a "storehouse" for outstanding athletes and of course a tourism destination.

Sports and union

The election or appointment of Papua as the organizer of the 20th PON has a number of reasons and certain considerations. As is known, the sports event is not just who is the foremost or fastest in the arena.

However, far from that, PON XX is a manifestation and determination as well as an effort to strengthen the sense of unity in Indonesia, especially in the Land of Papua through sports.

So far, talking about Papua or news that appears in various mass media cannot be separated from the issue of the Papuan Armed Criminal Group (KKB).

Countless how many times there have been gun battles between the security forces and the group. There have been frequent fatalities on the part of the TNI and the Papuan KKB.

Civil society is also a victim of the actions taken by groups that oppose and want to break away from the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

On the one hand, Aris is of the view that basically the Papuan people have absolutely no intention of breaking away from Indonesia. Perhaps, the turmoil that has occurred so far is due to various needs or desires that have not been properly accommodated.

Nevertheless, BPIP believes that this sporting event can open the eyes of the defecting groups to realize that Indonesia has never forgotten, let alone left Papua.

"PON XX in Papua is a reflection of how people from other provinces put their trust in Papua," he said.

Moreover, the PON XX song with the theme "Torang Bisa" which means we can is a manifestation of efforts to maintain a sense of unity in Indonesia. After the XX PON is held, it is believed that there will be more positive things that can be published by the mass media. Not only about the Papuan KKB conflict with the security forces, but it is hoped that there will be other values ​​that can spur the spirit of unity.

If you look back at the history or the purpose of the PON being held, it is how to bind or glue the spirit of a sense of unity between one region and another in Indonesia.

Referring to the formation of the Sports Association of the Republic of Indonesia (PORI) which then led to the holding of PON for the first time on September 9, 1948 in Surakarta, Central Java.

At that time, the people in the country were still divided or divided with different political views. Seeing these conditions, the government held PON for its first edition.

The goal is clear, namely to unite people who have different cultural, ethnic, religious, racial and group backgrounds from one another. Through the sports arena, all these differences can be united.

People from Sabang to Merauke gathered. Not only about sportsmanship but also achieving achievements with the spirit of nationalism.

Finally, the implementation of the XX PON in Papua is expected to truly become a means by all the children of the nation and understand that Indonesia is a country that upholds a sense of unity and integrity.

In accordance with the motto "Bineka Tunggal Ika", which means that although they are different, in essence, the Indonesian people are still one unit.

SOURCE: https://www.antaranews.com/berita/2390961/pon-papua-bukan-sekadar-ajang-olahraga