JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo decided to postpone the holding of the National Sports Week (PON) due to the corona virus pandemic or COVID-19. This was conveyed by the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali during a press conference on the Cabinet Secretariat Youtube account, Thursday, April 23.
Zainudin said the sports Olympics event every four years to be held in Papua on October 20, was postponed to October next year.
"The President decided that the implementation of the 20th PON, which was planned for October 2020, will be postponed to October 2021," said Zainudin.
There are several considerations underlying the postponement of the 20th PON. First, said Zainudin, physical work on the competition venue had to be stopped before it was completed. The reason is that supplies of construction materials are no longer available because many companies have stopped producing materials due to COVID-19.
Not to mention, the distribution of construction materials imported from outside Papua also encountered obstacles. The same goes for the efforts to procure sports equipment.
As is known, all provinces in Indonesia, including Papua, impose a number of restrictions to prevent transmission of the corona virus.
"With this pandemic situation, not only in Indonesia but sweeping the world, the procurement of sports equipment is also experiencing difficulties. Producing countries that were previously able to supply sports equipment for PON, apparently their production is also constrained," he explained.
Then, from the contingent side who will compete, they are also not ready if the PON is held this year. Because, in the current situation of handling COVID-19, all training centered in the regions has stopped.
Now, athletes only do exercises independently to maintain fitness alone. Meanwhile, maximum achievement cannot be expected.
"In fact, we know very well that the goal of PON is the pinnacle of sports achievement at the national level. This will not be achieved, especially if we talk about team sports. Teamwork cannot be trained in just 1 or 2 days. "he said.
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