Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla on Saturday night officially opened the 6th Association for International Sport for All (TAFISA) Games 2016 at the recreational park Taman Impian Jaya Ancol.

The opening ceremony was also attended, among others, by TAFISA president Ju-Ho Chang, Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Imam Nahrawi and the chairman of the organizing committee of TAFISA Games 2016, Hayono Isman.

Athletes from more than 84 countries are participating in this international sports event.

The opening event was marked by a drizzle.

"When I was a child, the most interesting game for me was to play with a ball when it was raining. Tonight, the rain has become a part of the opening ceremony of TAFISA," the Vice President stated.

A total of 54 traditional sports will be played at this international event. The theme of the games is Unity in Diversity, a motto that Indonesia has adopted.

Jusuf Kalla further said the recreational games are expected to inspire Indonesians to adopt a better life style and will motivate the youth through sports.

The Indonesian martial arts, poco-poco dance and Dol music highlighted the opening of the sports event.

Previously, the chairman of the organizing committee of TAFISA Games 2016, Hayono Isman, had stated that the event is aimed at generating a feeling of togetherness. Competing against each other is not the primary target of these games, he added.

Apart from the traditional sports, TAFISA will also feature a sports-related fashion show, "Indonesia Sport Fashion Week."

As many as 325 athletes from West Java will represent Indonesia at these 6th TAFISA that will continue till October 12, 2016.

The Tafisa World Sport for All Games 2016 is a community recreational sports competition involving traditional sports and concepts such as adventure, challenge, health and fitness, the West Java provincial governor, Ahmad Heryawan (Aher), explained in Bandung on Wednesday (Oct 5).

This sports event is an effort to publicize and preserve the traditional sports, especially those from various regions in Indonesia which have almost become extinct.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016