(I am) very excited. I deliberately came at 3:30 p.m. WIT (Eastern Indonesian Standard Time) to watch the fireworks on Merah Youtefa Bridge
Papua (ANTARA) - Residents of Holtekamp beach in Jayapura city, Papua, waited enthusiastically for the opening of the 20th National Sports Week (PON), which was slated to feature a fireworks display on the Merah Youtefa Bridge, on Saturday.

"(I am) very excited. I deliberately came at 3:30 p.m. WIT (Eastern Indonesian Standard Time) to watch the fireworks on Merah Youtefa Bridge," Tami, a visitor from Jayapura, said at Holtekamp beach.

Tami, a resident of Koya Barat village, Muara Tami district, said she was excited because, in the last two years, there have been no events to look forward to due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are bored as well because we have been staying at home more and there is no entertainment," Tami remarked.


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She said she was keen on watching the fireworks display at the PON, which is held once in four years, adding it was highly anticipated by residents and visitors at Holtekamp beach.

Like Tami, Aris, who is also a Jayapura resident, said that he deliberately chose to go to Holtekamp beach to watch the fireworks while enjoying the atmosphere and scenery.

"I chose this place because the view is good. If (I go to) the Lukas Enembe Stadium, I can only see the stadium," he remarked.

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Aris said that he came to know there would be firework displays on the Merah Youtefa Bridge and Lukas Enembe Stadium based on information on social media.

He expressed the hope that the implementation of PON in Papua would encourage the government to advance various regions of Bumi Cendrawasih (Papua), including developing the education, social, economic, and other sectors.

Papua is also known as Bumi Cendrawasih as the Cendrawasih bird or the Bird of Paradise is common to Papua, he noted.

"In addition, of course, we hope that great athletes will come from the land of Papua," he added.

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Translator: M Zulfikar, Kenzu T
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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