At least 900 participants from 13 districts and cities are participating in the sports week, which was officially opened by the province's acting assistant for public administration, Subhan Noor Yaumil, at GOR Hasanuddin HM sports complex in Banjarmasin on Wednesday.
According to Head of Youth and Sports, South Kalimantan, Hermansyah, this year’s participants are competing in five traditional games: sumpitan (blowgun), enggrang (stilts), balogo, long wooden sandals terompah panjang, and hadang.
He said that public interest in participating in the traditional sports event has been high.
"Later, we will select these participants to be sent to the national event," he added.
Hermansyah said that the event is a path for athletes to participating in national-level traditional sports weeks (Potradnas).
"Those who excel will be the top choices," he added.
Meanwhile, conveying the governor's message, Yaumil said that the Portada event is being held to promote traditional sports and prevent them from being forgotten as time progresses.
"We are promoting these traditional sports among all communities and the younger generation so that they can preserve them," he added.
According to him, South Kalimantan's Portada can be a place to reminisce about games played during childhood.
"This is a form of the government's concern for preserving the traditional games of South Kalimantan," he said.
Siak district in Riau province has been selected by the Youth and Sports Ministry for hosting the “9th National Traditional Sports Week (Potradnas)” in 2023.
An assistant at the ministry, Aris Subiyono, said 34 provinces in Indonesia will participate in Potradnas, which will feature traditional sports such as enggrang, terompah panjang, gobak sodor, tug of war, and sumpitan.
"Hence, we hope that the Siak district government can prepare facilities and infrastructure for the implementation of Potradnas in 2023," he said in November 2022.
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Translator: Sukarli, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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