JAKARTA - The VIII National Community Sports Festival (FORNAS) has officially opened in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) in the courtyard of the NTB Governor's Office, Mataram, Saturday, July 26, evening, in a magnificent ceremony that presents the spirit of fitness, togetherness, and national unity. Carrying the theme Loss Winning All Happy, United in Health, Showing Indonesia More Budget and Happy, the biggest community sporting event in Indonesia was attended by tens of thousands of participants from all corners of the country.
In his remarks, the Chairperson of the FORNAS VIII Organizing Committee, Ibnu Sulistyo Riza Pradipto, expressed his deep reflection on the meaning of this activity.
When the body moves in spirit, the soul trembles in joy. When the nation celebrates fitness, we are actually building glory," he said.
FORNAS VIII is held based on a strong legal basis, starting from the Law on the Sports System to the Decree of the Minister of Youth and Sports and the Governor of NTB which stipulates NTB as the host of this year's implementation.
Based on the official report of the organizing committee, FORNAS VIII NTB was followed by:
- 38 provincial contingents throughout Indonesia,- 12,378 match activists,- 3,870 match kits and officials,- 74 parent community sports organizations (Inorga) competing in 847 match numbers,- As well as 13 exhibition Inorga and 3 special invitations from the Governor of NTB.
The total number of participants and assistants who attended directly to NTB reached more than 18,000 people, with an estimated local economic turnover of more than Rp800 billion, especially in the hotel, transportation, logistics, MSMEs, and local culinary sectors.
In addition, this activity also creates more than 9,500 temporary jobs, both in the formal and informal sectors.
"This is not just a sporting event, but a spirit of nationality from eastern Indonesia. From NTB to Indonesia that is healthier, fitter, and united," added Ibnu Riza.
FORNAS VIII is not only a sporting event, but also a driving force for the economy and local culture. The Governor of NTB, Dr. H. Then Muhamad Iqbal, SIP, M.Si, emphasized that this event shows how people's sports can be side by side in harmony with culture and ecology.
"Regional art demonstrations; typical culinary delights of Sasak, Samawa, Mbojo; to community exhibitions are proof that community sports can go hand in hand with culture and the environment," he said when opening an event in the courtyard of the NTB Governor's Office, Mataram.
According to Iqbal, the motto Winning Everyone Is Happy to reflect the true philosophy of recreational sports where participation is more important than the podium, and joy is a medal for all.
The NTB Provincial Government is preparing to organize FORNAS VIII by involving all elements of society: from regional apparatus organizations to traditional sports communities, from students to the elderly, from campuses to pesantren.
"As the host, we not only prepare venues and facilities. What we prepare is a smile from the community, cultural friendliness, and the best service that is our identity as a world tourist destination," he said.
Furthermore, Iqbal said that the implementation of FORNAS VIII was part of the 'heating' for NTB in welcoming the role of hosting the 2028 National Sports Week (PON).
The chairman of the National CORMI, Adil Hakim, emphasized that FORNAS is the peak of the Indonesian National Movement to be Active. "For KORMI, this is not a matter of winning, but promotion of a healthy lifestyle, sportsmanship, and inclusiveness," he said.
Until 2025, KORMI has overseen 105 parent community sports organizations (inorga) spread across provinces.
55 percent of Indonesians aged 10-60 years still have poor fitness categories. We have to change that. And FORNAS is an inclusive and sustainable social change tool," he added.
The Coordinating Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Development, Dr. H. Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY), emphasized that the progress of the nation cannot be separated from the health of its people.
"One indicator of a prosperous people is a healthy, fit and happy society," he said.
AHY expressed his appreciation and gratitude in particular to:
- Chairman of the National CORMI Adil Hakim and all ranks, - Chairman of the FORNAS VIII Organizing Committee Bung Ibnu Riza Pradipto and the entire team, - All provincial contingents present and enliven this year's FORNAS.
Greetings KORMI: Healthy, Budget, Happy, Extraordinary! exclaimed AHY who was present with his wife, Annisa Pohan, in the midst of cheers from the participants.
The Figures Present
Apart from AHY and Annisa Pohan, they were also present at the opening of FORNAS VIII: Wamenpora Taufik Hidayat, Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto, Deputy Minister of PUPR Diana Kusumastuti, Governor of NTB Lalu Muhammad Iqbal and all members of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the Election of NTB Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR RI Lalu Hadrian Irfani, Deputy Chairman of Commission III DPR RI Sari Yuliati, Member of Commission VIII DPR RI Nanang Samodra, Chairman of the National KORMI Adil Hakim, Chairman of the Organizing Committee Ibnu Riza Pradipto as well as elements of the regional CORMI leadership and thousands of participants from the VIII National Fornas from all over Indonesia.
The grandeness of the opening was also marked by a defile of 38 contingents from provinces throughout Indonesia, including:
West Java, Aceh, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, DKI Jakarta, DI Yogyakarta, Gorontalo, Jambi, Central Java, East Java, West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung, Riau Islands, Lampung, Maluku, North Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, Papua, West Papua, Southwest Papua, Papua Mountains, South Papua, Riau, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, North Sumatra, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, and the host of West Nusa Tenggara.
The peak of the opening ceremony was symbolically marked by the handover of arrows from Wamenpora Taufik Hidayat to Arum Nazlus Shobah, an Indonesian young equestrian archery athlete who had made the nation proud at the international level and was then greeted with great fanfare.
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