In his speech, he emphasized that inclusivity is a key element of national sports policies, reflecting the 2024 Peparnas theme, "Bedo Nanging Digdoyo" (Diverse but Powerful).
The minister stated that the government will remain committed to providing equal opportunities for people with disabilities to grow and excel, especially in sports.
"Athletes with disabilities, whom I call champion athletes, prove that sports are a right for everyone," Ariotedjo remarked during the closing ceremony at Manahan Stadium.
The lively ceremony featured various art performances, including dance acts by 180 dancers, some of whom were people with disabilities.
The minister also highlighted that athletes with disabilities serve as role models of courage and hard work.
Similarly, the Head of the 2024 Peparnas Committee, D.B. Susanto, noted that this multi-sport event, first held in 1957, has demonstrated that challenges do not hinder achievement.
He added that through hard work and consistency, all obstacles can be overcome, and everyone, regardless of disability, can express themselves freely at Peparnas.
Solo had previously organized the 2022 ASEAN Para Games and the 2023 U-17 World Cup. This experience helped the city successfully host the 2024 Peparnas.
Ariotedjo praised the smooth execution of this year's Peparnas, noting that no complaints were received from the participants or the public. However, he assured that an evaluation would still take place.
This year's Peparnas involved over 4,500 athletes and officials from 35 provinces, competing in 20 sports, including boccia, para-badminton, and sitting volleyball.
Overall champion
Central Java emerged as the overall champion of the 2024 Peparnas, winning 406 medals: 161 gold, 121 silver, and 124 bronze.
Most of their medals came from three sports: para-athletics (45 gold, 36 silver, 21 bronze), para-cycling (26 gold, 23 silver, 8 bronze), and para-table tennis (16 gold, 15 silver, 23 bronze).
Central Java outperformed West Java, which finished second with 354 medals: 120 gold, 116 silver, and 118 bronze.
"This achievement is the result of hard work and an unyielding spirit," Ariotedjo said, congratulating Central Java at the closing ceremony.
Meanwhile, Osrita Muslim, General Chairperson of the Central Java office of the National Paralympic Committee of Indonesia (NPC Indonesia), said he had waited since 2017 to win the overall championship.
Hosting Peparnas this year motivated Central Java’s athletes, coaches, and officials to succeed, he said.
After the decision to move Peparnas from North Sumatra to Solo, the Central Java NPC quickly redirected funds initially set aside for transportation to increase the number of athletes in the regional training camp. As a result, the number of athletes increased from 250 to 373.
Breaking records
During the 2024 Peparnas, 145 records were broken—144 at the national level and one at the Southeast Asia level.
The national records were set in para-athletics, powerlifting, and para-swimming, while the Southeast Asia record was broken by Ahmad Fauzi of South Kalimantan in the F37 men's discus throw.
Andi Herman, Deputy Chef de Mission of the Indonesian Paralympic Contingent, stated that the records set at Peparnas will be important as Indonesia prepares for the 2025 ASEAN Para Games (APG) in Thailand.
After the APG, Indonesia will also compete in the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Indonesia won 14 medals—one gold, eight silver, and five bronze—the country’s highest tally since it first participated in 1976.
Minister Ariotedjo emphasized that Peparnas should serve as a platform to scout the best athletes for future training.
He urged the country's athletes with disabilities to aim for greater achievements, especially following Indonesia's first-place finish at the ASEAN Para Games in 2017, 2022, and 2023.
To support this, the government, together with NPC Indonesia, is aligning its programs to ensure that Peparnas contributes to the goals set for the Paralympics.
Rima Ferdianto, Deputy Secretary General of NPC Indonesia, noted that Peparnas provides an opportunity for athlete regeneration and prepares athletes for international competitions.
This event, he said, will help bring Indonesia to a higher standing in the global sports arena, with new talent from various regions emerging from Peparnas.
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Translator: Zaro Ezza, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
