Keep Going Even Though COVID-19 Rises, KONI: PON Papua Must Be Indonesia's Awakening From The Pandemic

JAKARTA - The implementation of the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) 2021 will take place on October 2-15, 2021. This means that Indonesian people will only have to wait 3 months to witness the XX Papua PON.

The chairman of the Central Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI), Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Marciano Norman, is optimistic and confident that the 2021 PON XX Papua will continue even though Indonesia is currently battling the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to soar.

"Today, we are together to organize communication and proclaim that the National Sports Week which will be held in Papua, during the COVID-19 pandemic, God willing, can still run," said Marciano in opening the online socialization meeting for PON XX Papua 2021 online, Thursday, July 8.

He admitted that this is a different time ahead of the previous PON because it is still in the Emergency PPKM period. Where all community activities, especially in the provinces of Java and Bali, are very strict to have to follow the rules issued by the COVID-19 Task Force and local governments.

"It is undeniable that the number of victims from COVID-19 has recently increased. Therefore, we must comply with the health protocols that have been issued by the government," he said.

Marciano then invited the sports community, provincial and district/city KONI ranks to provide support to government policies so that the level of exposure to COVID-19 in these two weeks could be seen to drop significantly.

"This is important, because it is impossible for us to hold the 20th National Sports Week in Papua if the situation in each region, the Covid situation is still average in the red zone. Therefore, we are working together to immediately make maximum efforts in this area. in less than 90 days to suppress, contribute to the government, keep our athletes carrying out the provincial unit program so that the XX Papua PON can still be carried out," explained Marciano.

Besides that, said Marciano, PON is always said to be successful if in its implementation there is a breaking of national records. "PON will also be successful if in its implementation we create outstanding athletes. Therefore, let's be optimistic in facing this situation," he said

In addition, he continued, the policy determined at the XX Papua PON is that athletes and officials who come must have been vaccinated. Except, those who are based on health considerations and doctor's considerations should not be vaccinated.

"But the people who have been vaccinated in Papua have also been vaccinated, so this also provides a sense of security for the athletes, contingents who come to Papua and those who are visited as hosts. Therefore, don't worry that we are all trying our best to face this pandemic, implementing the prokes tight, wherever we are," he explained.

The central KONI also appealed to the provincial and district/city KONIs to train athletes according to their respective regions through regional centralization programs that have been prepared by the province. According to him, health issues are a priority for the implementation of PON XX Papua.

"PON XX Papua must be a national sports week that shows the rise of the Indonesian nation from the COVID-19 pandemic. This Papuan National Sports Week must also become a unifying sports week for the nation where all of us from 33 provinces are present in Papua to make the national sports week a success. wait for this," said Marciano.

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