Attending Central KONI National Working Meeting, Menpora Emphasizes XXI PON Preparation Must Be Maximum

Head of the Central KONI, Marciano Norman and Menpora Zainudin Amali (Photo: Ulfa Gusti)

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali has given full responsibility to the Central Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) in preparing for PON XXI 2024 in Aceh and North Sumatra. The Minister of Youth and Sports emphasized that the Central KONI preparations for the sports party must be maximized.

Zainudin Amali made this statement while attending the Central KONI National Working Meeting (Rakernas) at the Sultan Hotel, Jakarta on Wednesday, December 9. On that occasion, the Minister of Youth and Sports asked the Central KONI to maintain the good results of the XX PON event in Papua and continue to evaluate and improve if something is lacking.

"The Rakernas is usually for evaluation and preparation for the future. Now, coincidentally (Rakernas) is associated with the evaluation of the XX Papua PON and (in preparation) for the XXI PON," said Menpora Amali.

"I'm left that this is a very good event, so that what was good in the past XX (Papua) PON can become a record for us to maintain. Meanwhile, if there are things that are still lacking, they must be corrected," he continued.

Menpora seems to really want the Central KONI to pay attention to all aspects in preparing for the next PON. This is because the XXI PON event is indeed different from previous events.

The XXI PON event was special because for the first time it was held in two different provinces simultaneously. The two provinces that will host the XXI PON are Aceh and North Sumatra.

"Because the PON in the future will be our first experience in holding PON in two places in two provinces. So the preparation must be maximal, especially since there is a long lag time that can be used to prepare," he said.

Furthermore, the Minister of Youth and Sports again emphasized on the Central KONI and regional leaders to be able to communicate with each other and play a big role. Because, said Amali, uniting the two provinces to become the host was not easy.

"(I) ordered, both from the Central KONI, then from the regional leadership it must be big (the share) because uniting the two provinces is not easy,"

"Because helping the implementation in one province is not easy, especially in two provinces," said Amali.

Although he realizes that it will not be easy, the Minister of Youth and Sports believes that everything will go well and smoothly. Especially if all aspects follow the guidance of the Central KONI.

"But I believe, with the guidance of the Central KONI everything can be well organized. In this National Working Meeting I think this is an opportunity to evaluate as well as prepare for the future (PON XXI)," he said.

Aceh and North Sumatra are confirmed to be the hosts of PON XXI. The opening ceremony of the quadrennial national sporting event is scheduled to take place on October 13, 2024.