The Importance Of Preserving Traditional Sports Amid The Onslaught Of Technological Advances

The Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) of the Republic of Indonesia, Dito Ariotedjo opened the Potradnas 2023 Open Space Gallery Linggar Jati, Kuningan, West Java. (Ist)

JAKARTA In the midst of massive technological developments in the community, traditional sports are increasingly marginalized. In fact, according to psychologists, traditional games and sports have a positive impact on mental health.

The activity of a group of young people playing rubber jumps around the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, has been in the spotlight some time ago. He said this activity was carried out to reminisce about the period of children that was spent playing traditional games, long before technology entered life.

Not only by the community, efforts to preserve traditional games or sports have also attracted the attention of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, with the title National Traditional Sports Week (Potradnas) which has been running for the past nine years. In 2023, Potradnas was opened by Menpora Dito Ariotedjo at Open Space Galery Linggar Jati, Kuningan, West Java.

"The holding of this Potradnas is also a mission to save Indonesian culture from many foreign cultural influences, especially the digitalization effect," said Menpora Dito, at the opening ceremony of the Potradnas 2023.

In order to attract athletes who will compete in Potradnas, the Banten Provincial Government held the Regional Traditional Sports Week (Potradda) II which was held at Sport Center Kelapa Dua, Tangerang Regency, 30-31 October 2024, namely Sumpitan, Hadang, Gasing, Egrang, and Terampah Panjang.

Chairman of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (Kormi) Hayono Isman emphasized the importance of preserving traditional sports as part of the nation's wealth.

"This activity is held to preserve traditional sports in Indonesia. In addition, this activity aims to form a fit and mental champion, so that it can participate in advancing the nation," he said.

This is the second time that the Potradda of Banten Province has been held, after being held for the first time in 2022 with Anyer as the host. Two years ago, Tangerang Regency won the overall title, thus making him choose to host.

Traditional sports are activities or games that come from the community itself by carrying cultural values that have been brought from generation to generation and become cultural assets.

In today's era, where people are very close to technological advances, traditional sports are increasingly marginalized. Whereas in the 1990s, traditional sports became everyone's favorite.

Head of the Tangerang City Dispora Sports Development and Development Working Team, Edi Ruhiyat, S. Ip, said that the presence of the Regional Traditional Sports Week (Potradda) II Banten Province aims to make traditional sports introduced to the public again.

This is a cheerful sport. In addition, this traditional sport is actually the same as achievement sports. This event is also looking for athletes who will represent Banten at the national level later," said Edi to VOI.

The same thing was said by H. Jejen Jainudin as the Head of Sports at the Tangerang City Dispora. Not only looking for athletes to represent Banten at the national level, he also hopes that this event can be a forum for introducing traditional games that are almost forgotten by the public, especially children today.

"Moreover, nowadays most children use gadgets, these coachings can also introduce traditional sports," said H. Jejen.

Both Edi Ruhiyat and H. Jejen Jainudin emphasized that it is not difficult to find athletes who compete in Potradda, although most of them are Generation Z. For information, Potradda is attended by students and students aged 14 to 21 years. They are the best at the Potradda II of Banten Province will fight to represent Banten Province in the Potradnas event which will be held in Gorontalo in the middle of next year.

Apart from being played in official events such as Potradda II, traditional games have also begun to be echoed again among young people. At least that is what can be seen around the Bung Karno Stadium since the last few months. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of city life, a group of young people, mostly in their 20s, seemed to be happy playing rubber jumps.

In mid-September, social media was enlivened by a group of reminiscent people remembering childhood by playing traditional rubber jumping games. Quoting Tempo, this activity is appreciated by the Play Community and formed on August 4, 2024.

"We mostly Generation Z, but still experience rubber jumping days before focusing on gadgets," said Moyi, a 22-year-old private employee.

Their idea is actually simple, namely to bring back traditional games in the midst of the hustle and bustle of urban life in Jakarta.

The Play community is said to have 1,022 members spread across Tangerang, Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, and Bandung. They usually gather and play together at GBK Stadium every Friday at 19.00 WIB and Sunday at 07.00 WIB along with the moment of a vehicle free day.

The routine carried out by the Play Community received appreciation from the General Chair of the Indonesian Traditional People's and Sports Game Committee (KPOTI) Mohamad Zaini Alif. He said the presence of traditional games at the GBK Stadium was more than just entertainment, but also an effort to connect the younger generation with the cultural generation.

"At the same time overcoming the negative impact of modern technology dependence," said Zaini.

Emergences such as the Play Community are also in line with the goals of KPOTI since four years ago, namely making traditional games part of cultural protection that is connected to the past. Traditional games not only treat homesickness, but also meet the needs of physical and social activities in the digital era.

According to KPOTI data, Indonesia has 2,600 types of traditional games, both those that are still played or not. KPOTI has also participated in 11 traditional games through Law Number 11 of 2022 concerning Sports.

A total of 11 traditional sports that have been carried out are mining attractions, hadang or what is also known as gobak sodor, egrang, dagongan, long or vegetable waste, fortungan, catfish stakes, gasing, pillow bangs, hanyan, and beam running. Of the 11 traditional games, five of them were competed in the Potradda event of Banten Province. This year KPOTI also plans to increase the number of frozen games to 21.

"We respect local differences, but we equate the rules to allow for standardized festivals and competitions," Zaini said.

In terms of mental health, traditional games also have a positive impact, according to Ennie Indrianie, Christian University psychologist Maranatha, Bandung. Traditional games involve active movements and sports-like social interactions, but with elements of pleasure.

This activity, he said, can activate the hormone endorphins or the hormone of happiness, which helps overcome stress and improve mood. Indeed, there has been no research that proves the psychological impact of traditional games, but the feelings of happiness that radiate from those who are active around GBK arise from social interactions.

"moving and interacting with other people can help reduce stress and improve mental health," he said.