The competition has been organized by Papua province’s National Sports Committee (KONI) from September 7–9, 2022, and aims to improve achievements in athletics.
The competition has five racing categories, comprising 100-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, 1,500-meter, and 3,000-meter races, head of the competition committee, Daniel Womsiwor, informed in Sentani on Wednesday.
"All categories are dominated by students from junior high school to the college level, but some (members of the) general public have joined the 1,500-meter and 3,000-meter runs," he said.
According to Womsiwor, through the running competition, KONI is seeking to make athletics the mainstay of the Papuan contingent, especially in preparations for the 2024 PON Aceh-North Sumatra National Sports Week.
Papua KONI is serious about restoring the glory of athletics in Indonesia, he said.
"Papua KONI has big hopes for athletics, so it is hoped that the Papua provincial management of the Indonesian Athletics Association (Pengprov PASI) can see this momentum to be utilized as an important agenda forward," he added.
The running event was opened by the achievement development division head of Papua province’s KONI, Saharudin Itaa.
On September 9 every year, Indonesians commemorate National Sports Day with the aim of strengthening the spirit of sportsmanship in the country. The first National Sports Day was held in conjunction with the first National Sports Week (PON) from September 9–12, 1948, in Surakarta city, Central Java.
At the 38th commemoration of National Sports Day in 2021, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) signed Presidential Regulation No. 86 of 2021 on the grand design of national sports (DBON), which seeks to encourage more sports achievements.
Related news: Foster sports in Papua since childhood without leaving school: Jokowi
Related news: Papua: Govt seeks to develop young sports talents
Related news: 2022 G20: West Papua prepares for 4th Y20 Pre-Summit
Translator: Ardiles L, Kenzu T
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
