The Government Has Not Made A Decision Regarding The Attendance Of Spectators At The Papua National Sports Week Venue

Zainudin Amali/Antara

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali said the government had not yet made a decision regarding the presence of live spectators at the 2021 National Sports Week (PON) venue in Papua.

This decision, he said, would be taken in September or a month before the event will be held in October.

"For the match itself, it will still be decided in September whether it will be without spectators or using a partially limited audience", Amali said in an online conference after a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) which was broadcasted on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, Tuesday, July 13.

He said the government is still monitoring the development of the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Moreover, the implementation of this sports event was carried out while the pandemic was still happening.

"A decision has not been made at a limited meeting because we are currently watching and monitoring the development of COVID-19 itself", said Amali.

Previously, the government said it would continue to hold the PON and the 2021 National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) in Papua even though the COVID-19 pandemic was still happening.

It is planned that the PON will be held from October 2 to October 15. Meanwhile, Peparnas will be held a month later or from November 2 to November 15.

The implementation of the PON is carried out in four regions in Papua, namely Jayapura City, Mimika Regency, and Merauke Regency. There are 37 sports that will be competed with a total of 6.400 athletes and 3.500 officials.

Meanwhile, Peparnas is only carried out in two areas, namely Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency. There were 12 sports that were competed and 1.935 athletes and 740 officials participated.