Inaugurating XXI PON Venue In Aceh, President Jokowi Asks Local Government To Care For Assets Well

President Joko Widodo is preparing to chair a limited meeting (Ratas) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Thursday (13/6/2024). BETWEEN PHOTOS/Hafidz Mubarak A/toms.

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo inaugurated the rehabilitation, renovation and construction of the XXI Aceh-North Sumatra National Sports Week (PON) venue in 2024, in Banda Aceh, today. "In order to support the implementation of PON XXI in Aceh and North Sumatra since 2023, we have carried out renovations and construction of venues in Aceh Province. There are 18 venues that have been built, renovated with a budget fee of Rp. 811 billion," Jokowi said in his speech at the inauguration ceremony centered at H. Dimurthala Stadium, Aceh, as witnessed by a video broadcast in Jakarta, Antara, Monday, September 9. The 18 venues were spread, including in Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar District, Pidie and Central Aceh Regency. The President asked all parties, especially local governments, to maintain and care for and take advantage of the existing venues as well as possible. He did not want the venues to be neglected until they were damaged, after the XXI PON event was completed. "I don't want after the PON after the facility built with a very large fund of Rp. 811 billion, it became unkempt and eventually damaged. This is the experience of the previous PON-PON," he said. He asked governors, regents and mayors to manage the use of facilities professionally so that they can be maintained properly and can be utilized in the long term, in the next tens of years. "Take advantage of these venues as a place for screening and coaching superior seeds in the field of sports, as a training ground for athletes from Aceh to improve achievements from the branches to later compete at the national and international levels," he explained. The inauguration was carried out by pressing the siren button and signing the inscription. Then President Widodo conducted a review of the H. Dimurthala Stadium. PON 2024 marks the first time the national multi-event sporting performance has been held in two provinces simultaneously, namely Aceh and North Sumatra. A total of 65 sports, 87 disciplines, and 1,042 match numbers were held in 20 districts/cities in Aceh and North Sumatra in competitions which were also the result of the development of regional sports achievements. Four new autonomous regions (DOB) namely Southwest Papua, Papua Mountains, Central Papua, and South Papua made their debut at PON, which was also followed by the contingent of the capital city of the archipelago (IKN).

At least 13,000 athletes compete to be the best until the closing ceremony at the national sporting event which is scheduled to take place on September 20, 2024.