Participating athletes should use the PON Games opportunity to engage in friendship with fellow athletes and to compete with sportsmanship spirit for the sake of the nationJayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Chairperson of the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI), Marciano Norman, emphasized the importance of sportsmanship in athletes participating in the 20th National Sports Week (PON) being held in Papua Province.
"Participating athletes should use the PON Games opportunity to engage in friendship with fellow athletes and to compete with sportsmanship spirit for the sake of the nation," Norman said in his remarks during the opening ceremony at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, here on Saturday evening.
Though athletes from Indonesia's 34 provinces are expected to do their best during the matches, they are also expected to respect sportsmanship values to nurture potential athletes for international competitions, he added.
"We hope the Papua PON will serve as the proving ground for potential athletes who will compete for Indonesia in future international competitions," the KONI head said.
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Many issues were faced by the organizing committee during the preparations for the PON Games, from sporting venues infrastructure and match equipment issues, as well as restrictions for protecting participants' health on account of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, he said.
Norman said he was proud that despite the challenges, the PON opening ceremony went off smoothly and on schedule with strict health protocols in place. The success of the event will depend on spectators' awareness to abide by the protocols, he added.
Though the opening ceremony took place on Saturday, several matches for the games had commenced since Wednesday (September 22, 2021).
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The PON XX opening ceremony showcased Papua's past, present, and future and promoted Papuan youth awakening, in keeping with the national sport event's theme of "Torang Bisa!" (We Can!).
The number of spectators was limited to 25 percent of the stadium's seating capacity of 40 thousand due to COVID-19. Health workers, emergency vehicles, and other healthcare facilities were also kept on standby at the venue for possible emergencies during the opening ceremony.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
