Looking at the Mimika residents' enthusiasm, we are optimistic of achieving our target of recruiting 3,600 volunteers
Timika, Papua (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Games Executive Board (PB-PON) has set a target to recruit 3,600 volunteers in Mimika District that will co-host this year's National Games scheduled on October 2-15, 2021.

The volunteers will be assigned to serve as liaison officers and field workers during the convening of the country's biggest multisport event, PB PON-Mimika District coordinator for Human Resources Affairs Agus Hugo Krey stated.

The recruitment process had taken place in Timika, the capital of Mimika District, Papua Province, from August 21 to August 24, Krey noted in a press statement that ANTARA quoted here, Tuesday.

"Looking at the Mimika residents' enthusiasm, we are optimistic of achieving our target of recruiting 3,600 volunteers," Krey remarked, adding that at least 1,694 applicants had registered to serve as games volunteers.

The recruited volunteers will be deployed in 16 fields and at every sports venue, but they would be excluded from conducting activities, such as healthcare and cleaning services, security, and cultural performances.

"Security-related activities are directly handled by the Indonesian Military and National Police as well as the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP)," he stated.

The healthcare and cleaning services were handled by those from the Mimika Health and Environment Offices, while the PB PON will coordinate with the local arts and culture communities for cultural programs, he noted.

The recruited volunteers will be trained in Timika on September 8-9 by stringently adhering to health protocols and will be paid Rp300 thousand per day during the convening of the PON event, he remarked.

Krey noted that the volunteers will be provided the PON guidebooks to help accomplish their tasks later.

Papua has come under the spotlight of Indonesia's media outlets, as it is scheduled to host this year's PON National Games and National Para Games (Peparnas).

The PON National Games will be held in Jayapura City and the districts of Jayapura, Mimika, and Merauke on Oct 2-15, while Peparnas will be held on Nov 2-15.

At least 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia are expected to participate in Papua's PON National Games that will feature 37 events.

Meanwhile, 1,935 athletes and 740 officials will take part in the National Para Games in Jayapura City and Jayapura District that will feature 12 events.

To ensure the safety of athletes and officials participating in the PON National Games and National Para Games, President Joko Widodo has urged the concerned agencies to inoculate all athletes.

The head of state has also instructed local residents living in proximity to all venues of the sporting events and athletes' villages to get vaccinated, according to Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali.

To this end, the Papua administration has planned to integrate the mobile application developed for these multi-sport events with the PeduliLindungi App, an application for COVID-19 contact tracing.

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Translator: Evarianus S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021