"We are sending the Nusantara contingent that consists of 14 athletes and several coaches and managers to the Aceh-North Sumatra PON," deputy for socio-cultural and community empowerment at the Nusantara Authority (OIKN), Alimuddin, said in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, on Monday.
He highlighted that Team Nusantara’s main goal in the quadrennial national event is to introduce Indonesia’s future seat of government to a wider audience.
"The goal is to demonstrate Nusantara city's readiness to coexist with the 38 provinces of Indonesia," the official said.
Alimuddin then disclosed that though the athletes are officially participating in the event, any medals they win will not be counted in the medal tally for the Sports Week.
The Nusantara contingent comprises male and female sports talents from East Kalimantan who underwent intensive training in Makassar, South Sulawesi; Jakarta; Surabaya, East Java; and Berau, East Kalimantan, he said.
He noted that 12 of the athletes hail from North Penajam Paser district, one from Kutai Kartanegara district, and one from Samarinda city.
He added that the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) of East Kalimantan allowed the OIKN to establish the Nusantara contingent as part of the push to improve the quality of human resources in the city.
This year marks the first time Sports Week is being held simultaneously in two provinces, namely Aceh and North Sumatra.
At least 13 thousand athletes representing all Indonesian provinces, including the four new Papuan provinces, are vying for medals in 65 sports at venues spanning 20 districts and cities of the two provinces at the competition.
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Translator: Nyaman B, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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