Closing Of PON Papua Shows Traditional Dances Typical Of Aceh-North Sumatra, Joint Host 2024 Edition

JAKARTA - The closing ceremony of the 2021 Papua National Sports Week (PON) at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura, Friday night, featured traditional Acehnese and North Sumatran dances. These two provinces will co-host the quadrennial national sports event in 2024.

Dances from Aceh performed Ratoh Duek, while those from North Sumatra performed traditional dances typical of Nias, Karo, and Toba.

After that, a number of Papuan dancers performed the Serui Kotaku and Asaibori dances which have the meaning of togetherness.

Launching Antara, the dances were performed right after the PON flag was handed over from the General Chairperson of the Central KONI Marciano Norman to the Aceh Regional Secretary Taqwallah who represented the Governor of Aceh, and the Governor of North Sumatra Edy Rahmayadi.

After PON Papua, the four-year national multi-branch event will be held for the first time in two provinces. This is stated in the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Youth and Sports Number 71 of 2020 concerning the determination of the Aceh provincial government and the North Sumatra government as the host of the XXI 2024 National Sports Week.

The Papua PON, which was opened on October 2 by President Joko Widodo, was officially closed by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, this Friday night, October 15.

The PON closing ceremony was enlivened by a number of domestic celebrities including NOAH, Saykoji, Iwa K, Yura Yunita, and Andi Rianto, as well as celebrities from Papua such as Nogei, and Blasta Rap Merauke.

At this 20th PON, West Java again became the overall champion, thus repeating the success at the 2016 PON. West Java collected 133 gold medals, 105 silver medals, and 115 bronze medals.

The Jakarta contingent took second place with 110 gold, 91 silver and 100 bronze medals, while East Java took the third place with 110 gold, 89 silver and 88 bronze medals.

Meanwhile, the host team Papua finished fourth with 93 gold medals, 66 silver medals and 102 bronze medals.