Pencak Silat Has a Big PR to Get IOC Recognition

JAKARTA - Pencak silat is considered to have a great opportunity to occupy a strategic position in the world sports ecosystem. Various big homework (PR) must be completed in order to get the recognition of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

President of the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport (AIMS), Stephan Fox, said that pencak silat should not lose momentum if it wants to go further internationally.

"Pencak silat has tremendous potential, but also a lot of big homework that must be immediately completed. Time is running and it would be a great pity if this opportunity is not fully utilized," he said.

Pencak silat is an extraordinary cultural heritage as well as an interesting competitive sport. However, to step up to the world level, this sport requires governance, international standards, and consistency.

Stephan said that pencak silat must be present in the agenda of the 2027 World Combat Games. This stage is part of the roadmap to a stronger global recognition. "It is an important stage for the world's martial arts branches," he said.

Currently, pencak silat needs to meet various international organization requirements, ranging from compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), active membership in AIMS, to integration with other international martial arts organizations.

Stephan appreciated the presence of pencak silat at the Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) and Asian Youth Games (AYG). He said that this achievement should be a stepping stone to go further and not just stop as a regional pride.

"The challenge is how to make pencak silat consistently present at the global level," he said.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia), Raja Sapta Oktohari, emphasized that the attention and direct direction from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, was a strong signal that pencak silat must be managed more seriously and professionally.

"The immediate attention from the President of the Republic of Indonesia is a reminder that pencak silat has a great responsibility to improve. There are still many PR to be completed, and this must be done together," said Okto.

He added that the Indonesian NOC is committed to safeguarding pencak silat to meet international standards, both in terms of governance, compliance, and sports diplomacy.

"International recognition does not come instantly. It requires compliance with global standards, organizational consistency, and collaboration across stakeholders. The Indonesian NOC will continue to monitor this process," he said.