"We want the PON to focus more on sports that are contested at the Olympics, Asian Games, and SEA Games while taking the capacity and potential of regions into consideration," he remarked during an Aceh-North Sumatra PON press conference in Medan, North Sumatra.
The 2024 PON, the first ever to be held in two provinces, encompasses a total of 65 sports, ranging from traditional to modern ones.
However, some of the sports featured have not been included in the Olympics, such as squash, e-sports, chess, aerosport, lion dance, and pencak silat.
On the occasion, Ariotedjo also revealed his personal score of 8.5 out of 10 for this year's grand national multi-sport event.
"I give this year's PON a score of 8.5. The score might reach 10 if the forthcoming closing ceremony runs perfectly," he pointed out.
The minister then highlighted that the 21st PON deserves appreciation for presenting the nation with record-breaking performances.
"Speaking of achievements, plenty of national records have been broken in various sports. This is the result of the high level of competitiveness among regions," he remarked.
The Aceh-North Sumatra PON has witnessed the breaking of seven national records and 21 PON records in athletics, one national record and 17 PON records in swimming, seven national records and six PON records in diving, and two PON records in weightlifting, among others.
According to the plan, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy will lead the closing ceremony of the PON XXI scheduled to take place at the North Sumatra Sport Center this evening.
The provinces of West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara are set to co-host the 22nd PON in 2028.
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Translator: Tri M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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