Kemenpora: PON XX Papua is not only an achievement event but also a gathering

Deputy for Youth of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Asrorun Ni'am Sholeh stated that the XX National Sports Week (PON) in Papua is not only a place to compete for achievements but also friendships.

Asrorun said, on the one hand, PON is indeed an event that prioritizes competition, sportsmanship, and optimizing the abilities of the athletes.

"But outside of competition there is also friendship, there is a commitment to unite us as a nation in the midst of diversity in origins, in the midst of language diversity, ethnic diversity, we gather and Papua is the host," said Asrorun.

According to Asrorun, the four-year sporting event can also be a momentum for national integration and foster the togetherness values ​​of the Indonesian people.

"Which is a soft skill that needs to be internalized to become an integral part of the wealth treasures that must be maintained within the framework of the youth development of the Indonesian people," he said.

In addition, Asrorun said he was optimistic that the implementation of PON in Papua could move the wheels of the economy outside the mining sector, which has been closely related to Papua so far.

Because, with the existence of PON, young people have the opportunity to show and market the results of their creativity which will have an economic impact on the Papuan people and the Indonesian people in general.

"With the existence of this PON, it can be conveyed to the public that there are treasures of economic wealth in the non-mining sector that can be optimized and also introduced, and that is where the role of young people with their creativity and innovation," said Asrorun.

XX PON in Papua will take place from 2-15 October 2021, followed by around 7,000 athletes from 34 provinces who will compete for 2,239 medals from 681 match numbers.

SOURCE: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2021/10/02/11530941/kemenpora-pon-xx-papua-not-only-ajang-prestasi-but-juga-silaturahmi