Central Indonesian National Sports Committee Chairman: Tokyo 2020 Olympics To Be A Reference For The Implementation Of National Sports Week In Papua

Marciano Norman. (Photo: YOU)

JAKARTA - Head of the Central Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Marciano Norman said the implementation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was a reference in the implementation of the 2020 National Sports Week (PON) in Papua in October.

This was conveyed by Marciano in response to the possibility of delaying the implementation of the PON this year after the number of cases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country increased.

"We see the Tokyo Olympics being carried out with the implementation of strict health protocols so that the Tokyo Olympics will be a reference for PON in Papua", Marciano said at an online press conference held after a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Tuesday, July 13.

Moreover, he believes that the COVID-19 transmission rate will decrease when the PON is held because the current government continues to make various efforts, including implementing the Implementation of Emergency and Micro-scale Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM). Thus, this policy is expected to reduce the number of active cases.

"We comply with the health protocol so that the PON which will be held from October 2 to October 15 will go according to plan", said Marciano.

Similarly, the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali also emphasized that the implementation of this national sports event would not be postponed. Remember, this event has been postponed since 2020.

"While the next organizers already exist, namely Aceh and North Sumatra. Of course, this will affect the next preparation", said Amali on the same occasion.

"So we haven't thought about (delaying, ed), we agree that the COVID-19 situation is our concern, of course, all our resources and efforts are put in to overcome COVID", he added

Moreover, the government has done careful calculations regarding the implementation of this activity. So, President Jokowi still asks PON in Papua to continue.

"The president decided to continue because from the reports submitted by the ministers, governors, and the General Chair of the Central KONI, we can indeed hold the event", said Amali

"Unless one day there will be a situation that is more than we anticipated before, of course, the government will make a decision and the decision is in the hands of the President and we carry out our duties according to our respective duties", added the Golkar Party politician.

As previously reported, the PON plan will be held from October 2 to October 15. Meanwhile, National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) will be held a month later or from November 2 to November 15.

The implementation of 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.