Jokowi Confirmed To Open Papua PON At Lukas Enembe Stadium October 2

President Joko Widodo (left) inspects the construction process of the Papua Bangkit Stadium in Jayapura, Papua two years ago (Photo: Antara)

Jakarta, 24/9 (ANTARA) - Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali, confirmed that President Joko Widodo would open the Papua National Sports Week (PON) at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura Regency, next October 2.

"Preparations are being made by the PON Grand Committee, which will coordinate with KONI, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and related elements so that the president can open (PON Papua) at night", Zainudin said at a virtual press conference in Jakarta, Friday.

Zainudin explained that the opening ceremony will carry out procedures and regulations like other multi-sport events, starting from reading athletes' promises to defile all contingents.

However, the defile, he continued, would not be as lively as usual because the committee limited the number of participants to minimize the transmission of COVID-19.

Regarding the attendance of spectators, the government has determined that the Papua PON may be attended by a maximum of 25 percent of the audience, which includes athletes, officials, and other supporting staff.

Meanwhile, people who want to watch are required to have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We have even made more details about which matches are very interested in the people, especially Papuans, such as football, volleyball, basketball, badminton, which usually have a lot of requests. Now, we will arrange how (the maximum number) can remain the same as the others, and it can't be more", he explained.

Previously, PON Papua was expected to be witnessed by spectators at the stadium. However, the coverage of COVID-19 vaccination in the four clusters of the Papua PON implementation to date has only reached around 57 percent for the first dose and 35 percent for the second dose.