"You are all a torch that flames the spirit of achieving and never surrendering. Share the soul of never having a fear of failing. Instead, success awaits you all," he remarked.
Vice President Amin asked the athletes competing at the Papua para games to show and maintain a sporting spirit.
The grand opening ceremony of the multi-sport event was joined by 1,935 athletes and 740 officials from across Indonesia and was also broadcast on the Peparnas Youtube channel.
As disclosed by Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali, the opening ceremony featured a light show involving 500 drones and musical performances by popular singers, including Anggun and Nowela.
According to Amin, Peparnas is not merely a sports competition. Instead, the event is a way of proving the spirit of equality and similarity, he said.
"Let us celebrate this equality in the spirit of brotherhood among Indonesians as reflected by the motto of one heart to gain the goal and create achievements," the Vice President said.
The government has proven its commitment to provide each Indonesian citizen with equal treatment, he added.
"Mr. President (Joko Widodo) has also requested me for opening this Peparnas while Mr.President himself will later close the event," he informed.
President Joko Widodo arrived in Jakarta on Friday morning from his working visit to Europe and the Middle East.
According to Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, President Widodo will undergo self-quarantine at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, upon his arrival in Indonesia.
Papua is again in the media spotlight as the host of the 16th National Para Games (Peparnas). It successfully convened the 20th National Games (PON) from October 2-15, 2021.
Unlike PON, which featured 37 events and took place in Jayapura city and the districts of Jayapura, Mimika, and Merauke, the Peparnas is being co-hosted by Jayapura city and Jayapura district and features 12 events.
PON was joined by at least 6,400 athletes and 3,500 officials from 34 provinces across Indonesia.
The Peparnas athletes will compete in weightlifting, cerebral palsy football, judo, badminton, athletics, chess, shooting, swimming, archery, boccia, table tennis, and wheelchair tennis.
One of the athletes competing in Papua's para games, which will end on November 15, 2021, is Leani Ratri Oktila, a para-badminton player who secured two gold medals and one silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
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Translator: A.Meodia, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
