Papua National Sports Week Gold Winner Returns Home Using A Pick Up, This Is The Explanation From The East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government

NTT - Viral on social media the gold medalist from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) at XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) Susanti Ndapataka was picked up by a pick-up car from El Tari Kupang Airport to his home.

The NTT Provincial Government through the Youth and Sports Office denied that it did not welcome the arrival of the gold medal winner in the Muaythai sport at the XX Papua PON.

Secretary of the NTT Provincial Youth and Sports Office, Willem Enga, stated that the information circulating in the public was not true which stated that there was no welcome for athlete Susanti Ndapataka.

"We were already at El Tari Airport 30 minutes before the plane landed. Along with us, there was Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) management. After leaving the waiting room, we picked up and draped flowers," Willem said in a statement received in Kupang, reported by Antara, Thursday, October 7.

Willem said that previously his party had also prepared a simple welcoming ceremony at the NTT Provincial Government Sports Building because the Muaythai athletes and coaches were trained by the Department of Youth and Sports (Dispora) at the Regional Sports Development and Training Center (PPLD) and the NTT Regional Student Training and Development Center (PPLMD).

However, he said the coach still chose to be with the community who came to pick him up using a pick-up car and went straight to the camp which was also accompanied by representatives of the provincial government.

"We offered many times to athletes, managers, and coaches to come together to the GOR but the coach said, let us and the community pick up," he said.

Acting Head of the NTT Leadership Administration Bureau, Prisilia Parera, said the provincial government remains committed to paying attention to the athletes competing in the Papua PON.

The provincial government, she said, was already present to pick up and welcome him, but the coach preferred to use a pick-up car.

"Of course taking a pick-up is not something despicable. We appreciate the efforts of the community to use a pick-up as an open vehicle, maybe it means to make it more festive," she said.

However, for the government's own procedures, she said, picking up athletes was done simply or without a parade due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Prisilia added that the provincial government has scheduled an official reception for all athletes participating in PON on October 17.