Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is committed to building a training center for athletes with disabilities, Presidential Special Staff Angkie Yudistia has said.

The training center or training camp will also be equipped with sports science specially provided for athletes with disabilities, she said during an online dialogue on the 16th National Para Games (Peparnas), which was accessed from here on Monday.

"Other than that, sports centers will also be built in 10 provinces in Indonesia," she added.

Ahead of the 16th Peparnas, which will be held in Jayapura city and Jayapura district, Yudistia said the government is emphasizing the importance of regeneration and coaching for athletes with disabilities to implement Law Number 8 of 2026 concerning Persons with Disabilities, along with its nine derivative regulations.

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Aside from that, as part of a derivative regulation of the law in the form of Government Regulation Number 70 of 2019 concerning Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of the Respect, Protection, and Fulfillment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, one of the efforts made by the government has been to open up opportunities for persons with disabilities in sports, she added.

According to her, Peparnas can be a platform for people with disabilities to showcase their abilities and achievements, carry the name of their region, as well as end the stigma against people with disabilities.

In addition, she said Peparnas is a big sports event that should be supported like the National Sports Week (PON) held earlier.

"I'm sure the public can welcome it (Peparnas) well. This proves that people with disabilities are capable of being equal with their achievements," she remarked.

The Peparnas XVI Games will be hosted from November 2-15, 2021.

A total of 1,935 athletes from various provinces in Indonesia are expected to participate in 12 sports competitions at the event: weightlifting, athletics, boccia, badminton, chess, judo, shooting, archery, swimming, cerebral palsy football, wheelchair tennis, and table tennis.

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Translator: Devi Nindy, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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